In the ensuing cacophony surrounding Nana Konadu’s probable run, a pro-con analysis.
Pro: Konadu has political muscle and relentless ambition to go through a party primary. A major figure within the Rawlings era, her role as first lady was more than ceremonial. She participated in and sometimes led lots of programs and initiatives under her husband’s presidency. Many in Ghana will remember her trailblazing work in gender equity. Under her watch the term “girl-child” and “women emancipation” became popular. She’s ambitious, wields great organizational skills and can get things done. Beyond her social and developmental accomplishments her appetite and mastery of Ghana’s political trajectory is legendary.
Unlike Mills, she doesn’t only have the ability to stomach missiles from the NPP; she’s more than capable of conceiving, assembling and launching her own atomic bombs. With Nana K on top, NDC will be on auto-offensive. In Konadu, they have someone whose iconic status can immediately ignite passion, activism and excitement among the party’s base. Mrs. Rawlings has a Palin problem though. She’ll do great in a party primary but will struggle to garner independent votes needed to win nationally. Her candidature in and of itself should be an exciting one: first female with a serious chance of becoming Ghana’s president.
On a lighter note the video embedded shows Mrs Rawlings dancing at an NDC Norway event.
Cons: That Konadu can lay claim to the presidency—however audacious—shows how little the balance of power within Ghana politics has shifted. Agyeman Rawlings has serious questions to answer regarding her role and that of her husband during “their” military and civilian stewardship of Ghana. I have no doubt Agyeman Rawlings will bring vast experience to governance but there are many who want to move Ghana beyond the shadow of the Rawlings’s. Internally the NDC needs to treat Konadu’s stake with extreme caution because her family’s legacy is indispensable to their electoral prospects. Anyone who deems her presidential experiment facetiously does so at their own risk.
Ps: My suggested campaign slogan for Konadu is to borrow Hillary’s… “buy one get one free
