A plus?
“Elections are like a race to pluck the ripest fruit from a slippery and thorny tree- though the road there may be tough, the reward is tantalising enough and the first person to reach the fruit can pretend to share it with others while keeping the best and most part of it to himself”
Having witnessed 3 MSA elections, it is clear to me that our elections, in many regards, are a microcosm of the bigger national election, though lacking in the many electoral malpractices that characterise this country’s 4-yearly elections. I will try to substantiate.
All elections revolve around and are often resolved by who raises the most money. That's unfair. I'd like to see that process changed... - John Murray
Firstly, the cost involved in organising a good and far-reaching campaign, is exorbitant, and obviously only those who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth or who have subsequently acquired it, can run an effective campaign on all fronts. The MSA election of today has gone hi-tech (not that I know what obtained in the past). In my preclinical years, especially in the first year, I received many text messages from aspirants, even as early as during the Christmas break and without a doubt, anybody at the nadir of Maslow’s pyramid cannot do same. The cost of travelling to KNUST from KATH is no joke – in terms of monetary considerations – as well as the time spent and risks involved. Again how many people can afford to do this on a near weekly basis in a bid to get their message across?
With this I’m unequivocally clear in my mind that, those who’ll put themselves up for MSA positions, although may be lacking in the qualities of the essence of good leadership, can with the sleight of their financially viable hand, make nice seeming their gross ineptitude and have gullible MSA members swallow their campaign promises, hook, line and sinker.
Is this not the same with our national elections? How on earth was the late Dan Lartey ever going to win an election when he had just vision bereft of the lubricant that drives the wheels of people’s political aspirations? Did Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom not have a good message too? Indeed did he not perform exceptionally well as a minister? Yet when it came to marketing himself, his voice became muffled amidst the louder voices of the other aspirants.
Furthermore, I’ve come to realise that some of us vote based on many reasons, some trivial others tangible. If elections are about ideas, should we vote for one candidate and not the other only because we attended the same school with him/her? Some of us vote based on just looks, others solely on the basis of the approachability or otherwise of candidates. Tribalism has not really played out loudly, but I’ll not be surprised if there are such undercurrents, for back in the Senior High School (SHS), it was an embarrassingly potent factor and we’re products of the SHS system , aren’t we? Would it be wrong to vote for a friend, even if you know deep within, in the abyss of your heart that he is grossly incompetent and would only occupy space?
Now if the essence of an election, as I’m told, is to get a representative from a group, to direct the affairs of that group, is it not right then that the most competent is elected. On the national stage there are many such similar issues. How many times was the tribalism card played? I have lost count, have you? That ladies are attracted to this candidate and not the other, is a bogus (almost tempted to add ‘whimsical and capricious’ as popularised by an MP) reason for anybody to give, for voting an aspirant into office. Again, are those who put themselves up to be elected, the best potential leaders around? Did I hear a loud shout of NO? At least we agree on this. In MBChB1, I know of some people with great leadership qualities, who would not compete on the electoral platform for reasons including those cited above but not exclusive to them. Seeing that everybody is straining to see one of my unspoken potential leaders, I’ll pause for now so that nobody gets a cervical rib fracture.
Agya Gyadu, my old and wise mentor, tells me he has heard from reliable sources that, the position of president shall be contested by just one person and that, that individual has a good record. One thing I know for sure is, politicians are master strategists and while just one person may show interest from scratch, others may be “waiting on the Lord”; some too may be doing background checks to determine their chances. Another interesting thing I usually hear is, “I have no interest in contesting, but if the electorate decides that I should, I don’t think I will decline their offer of service”. Well, going by this we’ll have to wait and see if Agya Gyadu’s early day prophecy will come to pass.
Has there ever been a lady president of MSA? If yes, how many and if no, why not? Behind the scenes, we (Agya Gyadu and I) will attempt to find answers for you.
NAY
EDITED BY “THE ROCK”
.JPG "Fathia Karim")
