What_Do_Two_Former_African_Presidents_Have_in_Common_

What do two Former Presidents Have in Common' Rawlings and Kuffuor must Engage Dr. Sulley Gariba, Institute for Policy Alternatives, Tamale Politics, indeed, has strange bed-fellows. Last week in Canada, two former American Presidents, Bill Clinton and George Bush Jnr., shared the same platform in Toronto, Canada. The occasion, described by commentators to be the epitome of congeniality, bellied the level of tolerance and maturity that enduring democracies have bestowed on a world of despondency. In America, Barack Obama has begun his Presidency on a note of hope, in the middle of deep financial crises and an economic recession unparalleled in recent history. Yet, he has displayed maturity and cheerfulness that makes many American citizens face up to the challenges of our time with hope and perseverance. What do we see in Ghana: panic and hopelessness; retribution and recrimination; sourness and agitation. We are so pre-occupied with our problems that there is a feeling of numbness and impatience. We either want to clean the stables and start afresh; or quickly return to the past of only six months ago. No objective reflection of success and an un-biased assessment of the central issues of our time and our collective obligation to address these without vilifying others. Yet, ours is a country which has two elegant former Presidents – John Kuffuor and John Rawlings. True, they have very different temperaments; but they both discharged their constitutional duties successfully and presided over commendable elections, successfully handing-over the reins of government from their respective parties to opposition parties who defeated their parties in elections. Yet, this very fact which is worth celebrating, has been the bane of our contention, to a point where, if you did not live here in Ghana, you would think each of these parties was wishing a “one-party” state for Ghana. Neither of them seems to have accepted the reality that political parties are here to stay, that no party is illegitimate, and that changes in government are necessary to cement a solid foundation for our fledgling democracy. The fundamental reasons why the electorate opt to change governments has more to do with the illusive promises made to the electorate, which are often unfulfilled, fully. Those at the helm share a sizeable responsibility for this relative failure; but most importantly, the citizens who vote, exercise their rights and choice properly and judiciously. Remember also, the two former Presidents, Rawlings and Kuffuor, never actually lost elections when they were in power; their parties lost the elections, only after it became constitutionally impossible for those leaders to contest elections after their 2nd-term limits had expired. What is the point I am making' We have in these two former Presidents statesmen whose collective energies we should harness for our national development. Rawlings has charisma, lets admit; and the energy to mobilize citizens to transcend difficult times and focus their energies on national duty. Kuffuor has demonstrated, in 8 years of his government, the ability to steer a team of multi-faceted executives to manage an economy with sober temperaments. Neither of them will ever become President again, and they should not. The reason our Constitution imposed a two-term limit on the Presidency is to ensure that we do not have the same old faces claiming all knowledge all the time. Now, we do have wise, elder-statespersons who can provide guidance for this and other generations to learn from their experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly). So here we are, in America, where some of the most polarized decisions were made by their two former Presidents, every opportunity is seized today to dialogue and offer insightful advise to their populations and governments. The New York Times (May 30, 2009) reported that “Mr. Clinton offered frequent advice, sneaking into the White House for a secret lunch as early as 2007 to discuss Mr. Bush’s post-presidential plans”! Imagine Rawlings at the Castle in 2007' A state of emergency would have ensured; or Kuffuor at the Castle today for a casual lunch' The BNI would probably serve the drinks! As a country, we should sometimes hold a mirror up and look at ourselves; if we are blinded by the glare, lets look at other peoples’ faces to see our own reflection. We have done most things right in Ghana, contrary to our own lamentations. We have run successful elections, two of them succeeding in changing governments. We have institutions, such as the Electoral Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the National Media Commission and a strong civil society that keep watch on the conduct of public affairs. Yes, there are hardships; some public officials and some politicians are corrupt and putting public confidence in the system of government and public affairs into serious disrepute. But let us also examine what things have worked and glorify them. Let us allow our past leaders to exhibit the sentiments of cooperation; admit and laugh at their past mistakes; offer advise from hind-site and humour the nation with their stewardship without carrying the burden of their past mistakes. In this, I remember early in the new year of 2001, KSM mounted a hilarious night of humour in which former President Rawlings got on stage to poke fun at his own stewardship and the loss of power of his party. That was a night to remember. Where is that humorous JJ today' When is Kuffuor going to join KSM at the National Theatre' Finally, there is much talk about Ghana’s economic woes. Indeed, the whole world has been griped by a deep economic malaise that is global in proportion. There is no excuse for Ghana to claim immunity in this economic meltdown. Finding “who done it” won’t wish the problem away. In fact, the nations that are likely to weather the storm are those who are closing their ranks and thinking together, “out of the box”. The world of ideology is not over, but it is being moderated by reason and the invention of new, consensual theories, borne of the reality of our time. Imagine how powerful we will be, when Rawlings and Kuffuor decide that they will, together, team-up to engage the Dagbon crises, or Bawku conflict, or a national consensus on Ghana’s Economic direction amidst the global financial crises....that will be the day! And if this was done before Obama arrives, he will find that the Black Star of Africa did not earn its reputation only as a liberator of the Black race, but that we are poised to serve as the beacon of Africa, and maybe win the World Cup on the way!