As Atta Mills faces internal dissent over second term bid, will the NDC survive?

For the first time in its recent democratic history, a sitting president in Ghana is being seriously challenged for his party’s nomination.

When Nana Konadu Rawlings decided to vie for the flagbearership of her party, some thought it was nothing but a bad joke. After all, incumbents in many democracies almost always get re-nominated. At least this has been the convention in Ghana’s nascent democratic politics. In fully fledged democracies such as the United States, internal challenges to a sitting president are nothing new. James Buchanan challenged Franklin Piece, Regan challenged Ford, JFK/McCarthy challenged Johnson, Ted Kennedy went against Carter and more recently Pat Buchanan fought the senior Bush. Yet only a handful of such confrontations have been successful.

Democratic Maturity vs. Partisan Imbroglio

After almost two decades of liberal democracy, this is the first time a sitting president is being seriously challenged in a party primary. Konadu’s presidential aspirations can be perceived through two prisms. First, it can be viewed as an attempt to re-gain control over the party built squarely around her husband and herself but which they’re gradually (if not embarrassingly) losing control of. On other hand, this can also be seen as a sign of democratic growth in Ghana as incumbents can no longer take their re-nomination for granted.

End of an era

Let’s face it: the sight of a “Rawlings” whether Agyeman or JJ subjecting themselves to scrutinization by other human being in Ghana is not one that many would have conjured up a decade or two ago. To see Nana Konadu grilled by “mere mortals” and succumbing herself to the process is indicative of how things have changed in Ghana. Both Rawlings’s are still potent voices within the partisan and national political scene in Ghana. There have been reports of a potential Rawlings coup or party split. However for the wife of a former dictator who was very much an active player in her husband’s iron fisted rule to come down to such levels indicates that the days of personality based politics in Ghana may soon be waning.

Mills now his own man

One of the most important outcomes of this whole partisan bickering is what it has done for Atta Mills’ reputation. Often viewed under JJ’s shadow, Atta Mills is finally beginning to emerge as his own man. It might be too late and no one can make empirical correlations between such a development and his performance but it does reflect well on his political image. In other words Atta Mills will now have a legitimate voice, legitimate constituency, legitimate bargaining chip and ultimately legitimate influence within his party.

Ghana wins

Overall if the NDC emerges from congress still standing, they should look back at this period with pride rather than prejudice. The NPP has already scored raving reviews over their restructured all-inclusive party nomination procedures. If the NDC sticks despite dissent, it will signify a coming of age for a party whose history is mired in military coups and iron-fisted rule. No matter our political stripes, we should wish the Akatamanso folks a successful congress. This is because strong party systems generally reflect positively on the national level. And in the end, the Ghanaian state wins big time.

Agyeman Rawlings and the presidency

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

SIKANKU: Flashback; recounting a reporting experience in Ghana.

A bill designed to enable citizens abroad to vote, sparked one of the fiercest demonstrations in Ghana’s modern political history.

By Etse Sikanku

The skyline was layered with thick black smoke billowing from burning tires. Armed policemen fired live rounds to disperse protestors who had encamped at the junction leading to the president’s residence—the Osu Castle. A middle aged woman cursed in unprintable expletives. Some rioters hurled stones at the advancing policemen while chanting: “Abaa gbe wo yee, abaa gbe wo yee” (They’re killing us oh, they’re killing us oo).

Hundreds of anti-government rioters mostly from the Committee for Joint Action (CJA)—a coalition of opposition parties—were protesting a law which would make it possible for Ghanaians abroad to vote in national elections. While state officials wanted to extend universal suffrage to citizens overseas, opponents felt the process could leave opportunities for election rigging. It was Valentine’s Day in 2006 but there was no love lost between the ruling party (N.P.P) and its opponents.

“We have gathered here today to show that we love our country more than our wives and girlfriends” yelled Johnson Asiedu Nketsia, the spokesperson of the CJA, in the local Twi language.

He was a slim fellow with thick black moustache and a piercing soprano-like voice. His nick name was General Mosquito. That was before the entire demonstration started though.



Back at the Castle junction, everyone ducked for cover. I tried making my way out but it wasn’t easy. When I turned, I saw state police firing hot water cannons from their armored vehicles while others chased the crowd with batons. Immediately, I flung my press pass around my neck hoping I wouldn’t be mistaken for a rioter. Out of the blue, something whitish landed very close to my shoes generating wisps of white smoke. I had just been tear-gassed. So I began running faster, panting heavily with watery eyes, as I started suffocating.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Paul Adom Otchere, host of CITI Eye Witness News, was about to go on air and the production desk wanted me to lead. Although I was in dangerous circumstances, I felt people had to hear the news the way it was and in a timely manner. Since my first day on the microphone, I have always felt journalists hold positions of trust and responsibility to the public. To me, this was a rare, sacred and privileged position which needed to be upheld at all times. Others had done it under worse circumstances and I wasn’t about to betray the profession and my own feelings.

“Let’s roll,” I said without even thinking. Once on air, Paul first asked me for an update and the response to his question is what I’ve uploaded as an audio file. I will never forget this day.
Thanks for listening!