The young  Presidential Staffer and his soon to be gone power

By Anny OSABUTEY

IT IS FINISHED, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensah, said soon after declaring former president John Mahama as the President-elect for the next four years, starting with a swearing-in on January 7. Mr. Mahama won with 56.6 percent and more votes (figures are still coming in) and with more than One  and a half votes difference, completely overturning the nearly a million votes he lost with in 2016 as the then sitting president.

It was a complete BLOODBATH, to quote a journalist. Others also called it ANNIHILATION, TSUNAMI, SLAUGHTER and more. Some also insist the defeat is a REFERENDUM on the LEADERSHIP of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his associates.

The NDC also won majority in parliament, more than the 2/3 majority required. What it means is that the NPP MPs ( and 4 independents – unless they decide to pitch camp with any of the parties) will be mere spectators in the chamber. The best they can do is shout; but they can’t bite, even if they develop an appetite to do any such thing.

Ghanaians hope the unassailable majority will be put to good use and for the good of the country. When the dust settles, the NPP is said to hold series of meetings to discuss the reasons why the elephant got battered this way. Eugene Boakye Antwi, outgoing MP for Subin in the Ashanti Region, has called for an open heart surgery of the elephant. He said the President and his immediate family are responsible for the hefty defeat. He insists the party needs that surgery to prepare it for future elections.

Mr. Antwi was one of the MPs who called for the dismissal of Ken Ofori Atta as Finance Minister. There are suggestions he lost his seat because the family worked against him on the ground. Apart from the unwholesome look of the economy which the government failed to acknowledge and largely contributed to the defeat, others have pointed to the ARROGANCE of some officials and how they adopted tone deafness to the concerns expressed by the public.

Then there are some PRESIDENTIAL STAFFERS at the Jubilee House, the self styled VANGUARDS of the presidency on SOCIAL MEDIA who did not mince words in how they responded to views they felt were unwholesome to the government.

As well as the bigger operations of the presidency. It is important to say there are young people at the seat of government whose engagement with people was decorous. They would call to engage over a post and what one thinks can be done better. Unfortunately, the conduct of the lousy ones on social media drown their tireless efforts.

Their conduct was a major talking point on social media platforms and social gatherings. A harmless post was misconstrued and the poster was subjected to volume of abuse. An elderly friend of mine, a retired diplomat who is active on social media, shared an experience with  mutual friends at a social gathering.

A Facebook user made a post about what he thought the President did not say right. During an appearance in a radio interview in one of the communities in the Ashanti Region, a texter said he was not going to vote until development was brought to his area. He did not think the government had treated them with respect.

In responding to the resident, the President said he was not bothered by the threat not to vote; after all, his face was not going to be on the ballot. The comment did not sit well with many people, including my elderly friend – who chastised the comment as “unpresidential”.  Few minutes after making the post, the attacks started.Others also also shared similar encounters.

In 2016 when the NDC lost, I authored an article about this same behaviour pattern and appealed to the young persons to be guided by it. Occupying positions in government set-up is natural and that is what ought to happen. After all, nobody will come from the skies to come and work. Ghanaians will do that job.

The issue is how one conducts himself (herself) in that office. What these persons fail to recognise is that their collective bad conduct often impacts the overall image of the candidate whose stays in office. From YAANOM (evil doers?) to NDC PAID-ACTIVISTS, almost everyone I know in my space was peppered with insults.

I have had my own share. When reports to make the roundabout 15 percent VAT began to circulate in the public space, I expressed my sentiments on a WhatsApp page. I thought it was “spineless” and “insensitive” from the government, considering the already existing CHOKED TAXES.

What happened to the “taxation to the production” promise, I wrote.  A PRESIDENTIAL STAFFER from the Jubilee House notorious for sliding into peoples DMs to disrespect them came into mine. He said I have insulted the president. Once I knew who he was, I devoted some time for him and cautioned him to desist from such things. He was adamant. I told him he did not understand the term “PRESIDENTIAL STAFF” and left it like that. Others shared similar stories about him.

Back in 2016 and even before that, he and his friends were happy to share the posts of those they now see as political “enemies.” Power tricked and made them think they are immortals. We may not always agree on things and it is ok to disgaree, but how one responds is what matters.

Power will always alternate between NDC and NPP, so long as we continue to practise this democracy. It is also possible that a party is in power and one can be considered to be in “oppostion” in the same party.

We have seen persons wield power in this country and the power left their hands, though their party was in power. We all remember the “HEADS MUST ROLL” phrase in this country, when a big political person called into a radio station and dismissed a public servant over a power outage at the Kumasi Stadium. An unfortunate act of nature caused him the power he felt he had and he’s never recovered.

Power is transcient. Power can trick. And after 7^th January, 2025, the power these presidential staffers thought belong to them will go to others. And they may never see it again.  It will be FINISHED!

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