ONE ONE DRAW; THE "BUGA BUGA" CAMPAIGN MESSAGE FOR 2016

My personal view of some events, how they played out and are likely to influence the upcoming elections and future events is the subject matter of this piece.

When the voter dictates the tune

The next turn on our right and we are in 2016, the year most of our politicians are dreading.  That is the year in which they virtually dance to any tune you call as a voter especially when you flag your voters’ ID in their faces. The government and all persons in positions of authority gained through the ballot box tremble at the mention of election year.  

As we approach the election year, I am reminded of a virtual noose around our neck. Much as many Ghanaians wish for the emergence of a third potent and marketable force that will widen the options and possibly take our necks out of this NPP-NDC albatross, there is something called reality which is difficult to escape, especially for people who house objective minds in their skull. It is sad but the fact is, “No such dependable force seems to show in the horizon, at least none I have seen yet.

The situation at hand is like a coin; it is two sided. You turn left and you are facing the spine-tingling devil, you turn right and you have the deep blue sea to contend with. The politicians are retreating to the drawing board to craft and execute workable strategies if the hope of “occupying their seats” (and the flagstaff) house from 2017 is to be achieved. Active campaign will start in earnest and will gradually hit third to fifth gear as December 7, 2016 inches closer.

But like cars which run on fuel, political campaigns revolve mainly around messaging. The more relevant and appealing your message is, the more your chances of making disciples which could eventually translate into the much needed thumbprints that vest you with the mandate of the people.

Tactically perching here on my rooftop, armed with my quill (pen) and old-fashioned telescope, I see two “buga buga” type of messages that promise to appeal to electorates in the Krobo region, one each for the two leading parties, the NPP and NDC and I can bet my bottom cedi that these messages will feature prominently during the peak campaign season.  Any attentive politician down there should long have spotted these hot messages that could easily work on the minds of my people.

Tasty hamburger for NDC communicators and propagandists

A few days ago, Krobo youth sprang up in a near spontaneous outburst against the minority in parliament and the NPP in particular for its plan to frustrate the passage of a bill that will cause the establishment of a university in the Krobo area. According to the minority side, championed by the NPP, they were dissatisfied with and disappointed in government’s perceived politically-informed choice of Somanya and Donkorkrom for the siting of the university.

From the look of things, if they had their way, they would have scooped the palm wine out of the “Krobo calabash” and given it to the people of Koforidua in the New Juaben municipality, riding on the argument of precedents which have shown that most of the public universities took off in the regional capitals, and so must this new one.

If you ask me, the NPP created some disaffection of a sort for itself among a section of the Krobo citizenry. For a party which is still struggling and hoping to break the dominance of the NDC in that zone, (bare fact and not fiction) any sense of opposition (which is the unfortunate signal sent to many) to a project like this that has the prospects of developing the area is sure to affect its fortunes, and for a long time to come, the party would struggle to explain its action and intention to the people.

Whether the Elephant folks like it or not, their rather unfortunate last minute actions and utterance on the project was a free tasty hamburger for NDC communicators and propagandists who are surely going to package and trumpet that to the Krobo community come 2016. May be the NPP must start thinking about a response.

The Umbrella’s weak point, a counter message for the NPP

I have a message

The NDC has an Achilles heel too and any smart shooter in the NPP would aim nowhere but that weak spot, at least it will appeal to a number of Krobos. It is common knowledge that the Manya Krobo state has, over the past years, reduced in size under PNDC/NDC government-made laws. As if Manya Krobo was too big to be administered as one traditional area and two constituencies, its communities were always the target any time government (under the NDC) thought of creating or adding onto a district, not new in Manya, but outside. 

At different points in time, government cut well known Krobo communities like Asedja, Meryiwa, Osubeng, Kakama SK, Miaso and Klumhe Akontaa to help create the Fanteakwa district and followed in a rapid succession with similar acts that saw known Krobo villages like Adjina Dornor, Sapor, Manya Yoyim, Sedorm, Yerniama and Dawa Toklo (the last two of which are prominently featured in some Klama/Dipo songs) cut away and aligned to the then newly created Asuogyaman district. 

Who said Manya Krobo too should not have three or four districts and constituencies and, for that matter, three or four MPs if its land size and population permit that? Wouldn’t that have increased our share of voice in parliament and influence in the corridor of power, if for nothing at all?

As if that was not enough, the same government continued what seems like (or perhaps rightly so) a deliberate policy to reduce the size of the Manya state and attempted illegally ceding Akuse (and all of its seven electoral areas) from Manya in the Eastern Region to the Shai-Osudoku district in the Greater Accra region, this time under a disguised Electoral Area re-demarcation exercise. Ask yourself why this is happening this number of times and repeatedly under the same government.  

First it was Manya Krobo losing lands to Fanteakwa and then Asuogyaman and now Shai-Osudoku. And who said government will ever cut another district (if it is the practice) and add to Manya to help meet the requirement for a third district/constituency? It can only suggest that the NDC, after all, is not as caring as it portrays. Could this be a deliberate (wicked and if you like anti-Manya) policy to reduce its size and influence as is wildly perceived?

Till date, the dust that was stirred by that veiled government-back exercise at Akuse is yet to settle and in fact may even be stirred again as we approach the September assembly election during which the two sides (Manya and Osudoku) are sure to lock horns again over Natriku, the last of the seven electoral areas yet to be returned to the former.

I am not moving an inch from my current position just so I can have a good view of the drama that will unfold between now and the elections. I shall return but until I do so, be reminded that these are my thoughts and not yours. Let the objective reader make meaning of this piece.

The writer is a journalist (an activist writer) and a blogger and can be reached via klonobi2007@gmail.com. You can follow him on twitter with the handle @henkingklonobi

“POLITICAL” STATEMENT BY THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF OF MANYA KROBO, The "fallouts" and my disappointments

Is there any difference between these two statements – 1. We vote for you all the time and 2. We WILL ALWAYS/FOREVER vote for NDC?

Nene Sakite II, Konor of Manya Krobo

So the paramount chief of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sakite II was speaking at the commissioning of an extension work by the President John Dramani Mahama at the Kpong Water Works in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern region when he made a statement to the effect that “…We (the people of Manya Krobo) vote for you all the time…”. This was supposed to be referring to the President and his NDC government.

Per the Konor’s explanation which I sought from him in the heat of a debate that sprouted from his comment, he meant to remind the President that in all previous elections majority of the people of the area preferred and indeed voted more for an NDC candidate than they did any other candidate. It was therefore important that the president and, for that matter, the ruling government gave attention in equal measure or a reasonable one to the myriad of problems in the area.

The next day after the event, he was reported in the media as having pledged he and his people’s everlasting (continuous) support for the ruling government of the NDC. He was quoted as saying “We WILL ALWAYS vote for the NDC” instead of “We vote for you all the time…” which he originally said. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=340675

Others quoted him as saying “We WILL FOREVER vote for the NDC- Konor of Manya Krobo”. In fact, one newspaper headline read “Krobo Chief leads NDC campaign”. The introduction of three new words- WILL, ALWAYS and FOREVER- into Konor’s statement by the reporters completely gave a different meaning to what the Konor said.

The story as captured by the Daily Guide Newspaper

Putting his original statement (We vote for you all the time) side by side what the media reported (We WILL ALWAYS/FOREVER vote for NDC), admittedly the two are markedly different. The journalists clearly (or perhaps mischievously) MISrepresented the old boy and succeeded, to some extent, in creating a huge disaffection for him.

If for nothing at all, what the old boy said was in the SIMPLE PRESENT and that of the media was in the FUTURE CONTINUOUS (I faintly remember my grammar lessons). That alone should tell you the statements are not the same even if you will disregard the intent/intention behind the words/statement.

The observation by the Konor that his people have voted in the past for the NDC (which is a statement of fact) is not to say that they WILL, ALWAYS and FOREVER vote for the NDC in the future, which is the unfortunate inference the reporters made.

When a few days later the story broke out, many were those who impatiently “demanded the head of the Konor”- and his crime- “mounting a political platform” and declaring open support for the NDC. Hardly did readers give Nene the benefit of the doubt to first listen to the tape/recording to ascertain exactly what he said before passing comments.

The public spewed vituperation on him left right center based on hearsay (what the media reported) and that I find unfortunate. Some people who, in my estimation, should know better also joined the fray of reactions, much to my surprise. 

It is for this same reason that I find disappointing the reaction from the Lower/Upper Manya Krobo constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party; partisan politics seemed to have clouded their judgment and they misfired.

On Tuesday January 6, 2015, they held a press conference in apparent reaction to what in their words was the “purported statement by Nene”; Truth is that, holding a press conference in itself was not entirely a bad idea because they (the executives) should be seen to be active; Yes, they have constituents who may have been anguished by the alledged declaration of support to the NDC by Nene and as such would want to hear from their leadership.

I personally expected the NPP to have done due diligence by first and carefully analyzing the recording and basing their reaction on the exact words of the Konor. What did they do instead? They preferred hinging their reaction on HEARSAY, perhaps to score some cheap political points. I saw the trap in doing that and cautioned against it because by openly condemning the Konor based on what HE IS SAID TO HAVE SAID, the NPP was going to create a huge disaffection for itself; any fair-minded and right thinking Krobo was sure to take such a mal-adjusted reaction with a pinch of salt.

Now, in their kneejerk reaction, not only did they entrench the MISinformation as reported by the media which expectedly fuelled the disaffection (generated more negative comments) for the Konor and Krobos for that matter, they also found themselves caught in the snare, making some misguided/sweeping statements that are themselves open to different interpretations by any critical mind.

In paragraph 4 of page 2 of the NPP’s press statement they said in part that “Since 1992, the electorate in the three Krobo constituencies have always voted according to their conscience and not according to the dictates of any paramount Chief”. Then in paragraph 1, page 3 of the same statement, the NPP said “After voting consistently for the NDC since the inception of the Fourth Republic and having almost nothing to show for it, Krobos are NOW DISCERNING and have decided to change their voting pattern come 2016”.

I smell some contradiction here but that is not the main point I intend to raise. If the NPP is saying that Krobos are NOW discerning, should I understand that to mean that until NOW, Krobos (including my honourable self) were not discerning? Previously, we were doing something else? Isn’t that a polished insult to me, if not to the entire Krobo citizenry? Why, must (majority of) Krobos vote for NPP to prove that we are discerning? Only that will we be seen to be using our God-given intellect/gumption?

Who even said Manya Krobo is made up of 100 percent Krobos? Has the NPP taken the pain to study the composition of the population of the area particularly a highly populated area like Kpong where tribes like Ewe, Loso, Ada, Hausa are known to be in the majority?

Who told the NPP that Krobos have decided to change their voting pattern come 2016? That’s a baseless, sweeping statement there too. You see, there the NPP is, also speaking generally for the Krobo when they have not so been mandated.

What is more?  In the same paragraph (1) of page 3, line 5, 6 and 7, the NPP’s statement said “The Krobos have acknowledged with gratitude how their lives have been positively affected during the NPP era under Ex. President Kufour…”. Which Krobo told this to the NPP? The entire Krobo citizenry?

The NPP further said in the last but one paragraph of page 3 that its “check indicate that the Krobos have decided to vote massively for Nana Addo and the NPP come 2016…”There we go again, another general statement that can’t be made on behalf of the Krobo citizenry. As for me, I will comfortably pitch my camp somewhere and wait to see if this claim will come to pass, only then will I be convinced that they have indeed done some checks and are speaking based on empirical evidence.

Finally the statement urged “all well-meaning people of Manya Krobo to register their strongest objection to the PURPORTED statement”. Purported? Not what the Konor actually said? Hmmmmmm

Personally, I am disappointed at how the party approached the issue and will not hide my feelings; it’s not my nature so to do. Going forward, they may want to be more calculating, if they want to appeal to critical minds. It is my heart-felt wish also that going forward, the Konor will be mindful of his statements, given the different meaning of words. His words should be carefully chosen to carry across exactly what his intent is because borderline statements like this could be dangerous and we are all living witness to it. The Traditional Council must also be up and doing; the issues was left to boil for far too long before they rejoinder was issued. We want to see more proactive steps.

If for any reason my assessment of this issue fell below your expectation, please ignore because I did it in my “ignorance”.  

-END-

Ghanaweb's version of the story 

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=340675

Daily Guide's version of the story

http://www.dailyguideghana.com/krobo-chief-leads-ndc-campaign/

The rejoinder from the Manya Krobo Traditional Council
http://www.starrfmonline.com/1.1952805

 Below is the NPP's Press Statement

NPP's Press Statement (Page 1)

NPP's Press Statement (page 2)

NPP's Press Statement (Page 3)

NPP's Press Statement (Page 4)

THE REJOINDER FROM THE MANYA KROBO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL

REJOINDER: KROBO CHIEF LEADS NDC CAMPAIGN

The Manya Krobo Traditional Council has taken judicious notice of the content of stories running in the media, reporting Nene Sakite II, Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional area as having pledged the continuous support of the people of Manya Krobo for the ruling government of the National Democratic Congress.

Nene was delivering his welcome address at the commissioning of an extension work by the President, John Dramani Mahama at the Kpong Water Works in the Eastern Region on Tuesday December 23, 2014.

The thrust and intent of Nene’s statement was that the people of Manya Krobo do vote for the NDC, he was therefore questioning how come a lot of the needs of the people of Manya Krobo have still not been met. This was the spirit in which the statement was made.

While apologizing for the anguish that may have been caused a section of the public as a result of the misrepresentation of facts by the media, it is appropriate that we set the record straight, putting side by side the words of the Konor and what was reported in the media.

It is worth noting that while the Konor made an observation of the fact that “We vote for you all the time,…” (i.e the people of Manya Krobo in the past five general elections have indeed selected an NDC candidate) what has been reported by sections of the media that “We WILL ALWAYS vote for NDC” is a mischievous and a totally inaccurate representation of what the Konor said or intended. The introduction of two new words- WILL and ALWAYS- by the reporters completely gave a different meaning to what the Konor said in his statement. The observation by the Konor that his people have voted in the past for the NDC is not to say that they will vote for the NDC in the future, which is the unfortunate deduction the reporters seek to make.   

In the opening paragraphs of some of the stories in the media, some media houses gave a deliberate twist to the statement and alledged Nene as saying “His people WILL FOREVER vote for the governing National Democratic Congress”. This is patently false. Nowhere in Nene’s speech did he say that his people will FOREVER vote for the NDC.

It is clear that the two statements “We vote for you all the time” and “We WILL ALWAYS vote for you”, are markedly different in meaning. It is unfortunate that anybody could misconstrue the two to mean the same thing, thus leading to the present misunderstanding.

The Konor and the Traditional Council acknowledge the fact that the population of the area is diverse- and election results bare testimony. The people have an unfettered right to freely choose who they want as leaders and this, the Konor and the Council stand to defend. We also want to emphasize that both the Konor and the Council respect the individual will of the people and will grant it as per their political affiliations.

If for any reason the import of the statement varied from the understanding of a section of the public, given the different meanings to the words, and for which reason may have been anguished, the Council regrets it and hopes that this clarification will put the issue to rest.

Sgnd.

Zizingmozingmo Asada Ahor I

Akuse Matse and Public Relations Officer

Manya Krobo Traditional Council

Odumase-Krobo