In an Article full of deep insights and objectivity sent to Christianworldgh.com Rev. Francis Yalley outlined six very important areas he believes every Ghanaian must consider as we heads towards the 7th December elections.
The six pointers he stated are:
1. Roads are “Eatable”
2. One District One Factory Is Possible
3. Mahama Scores 6/10 in his tenure
4. Election prophecies are recipe for War
5. Thumbs Up for Electoral Commission
6. Culture of Insults Must stop
Below is the Full Article With Explanations to the Pointers:
Governance is a serious business and they that put up themselves for national leadership must show demonstrable commitment towards it lest they’ll be ousted from the corridors of power. I have observed keenly the governance of this country as a pastor who is passionate about our national leadership and strongly believes the standard of our national politics should not be lowered to accommodate those who are in for the sake of their parochial interest and to stifle the national purse.
In this piece, I take a stroll on the varendars of significant thematic areas of our national politics in a rather intriguing fashion with a flare that won’t spare major highlights of our governance. You can join me if you want to. Like I said, governance is a serious business!
1. WHO SAY’S WE DON’T EAT ROADS?
As the nation gears towards the December general elections, many are the critical scrutiny of the various proposed policies of government and the oppositions as well. One thing the president and his government communicators have trumpeted as an unprecedented achievement is infrastructural development.
However, critics have argued that infrastructural development is so basic a government responsibility that the president needs no commendation for. I beg to differ. The economic architecture of Ghana is one that hinges on good infrastructure such as quality roads. No serious country ever developed without conscientiously investing in infrastructure. In fact, it is the availability of such infrastructural developments and expansions that quickens a holistic national development.
Let’s take for instance, the President Kuffuor administration. But for his government constructing the kasoa road, who would have thought that Kasoa would have become an economic hub? Today, the West Hills mall among other businesses have all positioned their companies along that stretch of road. I even know people who now curse their stars for rejecting lands over there on the premise of it being a village. Another notable example is the construction of the Awoshie – Pokuwase road that where my church Bridge Ministries International is located. The entire township has received a major facelift thereby encouraging people to finish up their buildings and setting up businesses. Prior to this development, workers could spend several hours in traffic on the then dust infested road rendering them unproductive in their workplaces.It’s not the case anymore. You see what road infrastructure can do?
The moment we nurse this misconception about road infrastructure, the more we make it entrenched in the minds of governments who may now begin to renege on this responsibility. “After all, it’s so basic and it may not win us anything”. They may think. It’s a dangerous card we mustn’t play. Irrespective of the government in power, they ought to be applauded if their investment in infrastructure is laudable. So far I think this government has performed commendably in infrastructure especially roads. If good roads can keep us alive and provide the means to make businesses survive, increase workers’ productivity in the office and of course create access to towns that feed us in terms of farm produce then, we indeed eat roads!
2. NANA ADDO’S ONE FACTORY, ONE DISTRICT IS DOABLE BECAUSE OF MAHAMA’S WORKS
I think one of the brilliant ideas in the run up to this general elections has been Nana Addo’s one district, one factory. In this current dispensation, industrialisation cannot be overlooked by any nation if it indeed wants to accelerate it’s economic progress to either match up or catch up with the rest of the world. However, this policy must have been thinkable because the current government has been able to ensure the variables that make such policy workable really exist. What are these economic variables? Things to consider when citing a factory among other things include the quality of roads, access to potable water and availability of electricity. Frankly speaking, majority of these variables if not all exist. Therefore, like I mentioned earlier, we shouldn’t ridicule any government irrespective of the party that forms it when it invests in infrastructure because we don’t know the development policy of other successive governments and whether or not the former’s works shall provide the inspiration for the others.
3. I SCORE MAHAMA 6/10
Even though I give credit to the government for their infrastructural works, I strongly posits without any form of equivocation that their failure with the power crisis is highly unforgivable. Yes, the issue of power is not exclusive to this particular NDC government as other previous government have also failed woefully in addressing it but the gravity of the dumsor effects on businesses, homes and so many other things in these few years of President Mahama’s reign has been horrifying.
For now, it does appear that the power challenges has been salvaged. However, it took so long. I believe it took that long because the demand for electricity in our time has greatly increased (as compared to previous years where only Akosombo dam was enough) and just a temporal fix couldn’t be the solution. This government sought to approach this power challenge with the aim of completely giving it a permanent fix and also working out on alternative source of power. I would have thought that during this difficult moments, the government would have subsidize the acquisition of generators and the fuel for same since it was obvious the crisis was going to linger on. At least, that would have reduced the impact of the crisis on businesses. And for this reason, it makes it so unforgivable because the loss can never be redeemed no matter the compensation. However, from another angle, it makes it worthwhile if this price paid is for us to have stable power for as long as possible.
4. ELECTION PROPHESIES ARE RECEPIES FOR WAR
I have observed the trend of men of God making several public pronouncements of election prophesies anytime we head for a major national election. This unfortunate practice is unbiblical, unethical and must be stopped. Do I believe in prophesies? Yes. Is the modus operandi acceptable? No.
The word of God is our standard and we must function within the remit of it to the latter. Let’s consider the ramifications of these election prophesies. Whenever a pastor makes such public pronouncements, it insights the supporters of such candidates and also raises their expectations so high that should the eventual results prove otherwise, they may resort to political cataclysym and unnecessary belligerence. It is for good reason that the wisdom of the Bible made it clear with the example of Saul who was anointed in private, Samuel in the book of 1 Samuel 9 and 10 and Jethro in 2 Kings 9
Now take a look at this analogy too; what happened when the soon-to-be king’s(Jesus) birth was announced? The then ‘sitting president’ or king Herold ordered for the killing of all male babies because of the public announcement of one man – Jesus. This is a revelation! Per the wisdom of the gospel, if it needs to be pronounced at all, it can be done in private if only the motivation is not to seek fame and hunt for glory. I have given several major prophesies that came to pass yet I didn’t do it publicly because that wasn’t the assignment. We the association of concerned clergy, have in a number of times spoken to colleagues who fell short of this ethical standard and I believe its going to gradually halt.
5. I CLAP FOR THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
I had a conversation with one writer some few weeks ago. He asked me what my take was on the EC’s disqualification of presidential candidates and I remember saying the court will justify the means. The reason why I applaud the EC is the firmness it has demonstrated. I opine that Madam Charlotte Osei’s law background is really essential to the work she finds herself in because she is supposed to know better and insist that the right thing is done. They that seek to serve us must show us they pay critical attention to details and do not condone any form of mediocrity. If this piece had come a little earlier, I’m pretty sure people may be hailing me as a credible prophet by now even though I predicted this purely from an analytical perspective. May the EC be unrelenting in ensuring that the right thing is done either by its insistance or by the court’s order.
6. THIS CULTURE OF INSULTS MUST STOP!
Nowadays, you tune in to radio and it’s so heartbreaking that our dear young ones engage in politics of insults. It is no different on social media – perhaps even worse. What happened to the culture of respect, courtesy and decorum? The youth of today can actually take an elderly person to the cleaners which wasn’t the case in the past. And we wonder why people are dying miserably at a young age? Why should we when we are blatantly disobeying scriptures. The Bible says in order for our days to be long, we must obey our parents and give reverence to the elderly. We can’t defy this and expect a different result. It is preposterous for any youth to mortgage his or her life for Gh20 credit to call into a radio station and insult and do the bidding of their paymasters. My dear young ones, wise up! This is an act all well-meaning Ghanaians must condemn regardless of which political divide you belong.
As we head for the polls, vote for one who carries a great vision, has the team and wherewithal to deliver on the promise. And as one people lets ensure that our peace is sustained whether your candidate wins or not. Just like how I always put it, without peace there cannot be national prosperity.
