Please,
before you draw any conclusions based on the aforementioned caption, kindly go
through the write-up because I do not want to subject my good self to public
ridicule by seeking to compare the two gentlemen. Of course, you know that the
apple and the orange cannot be compared with each other for obvious reasons.
Instead, what I’m seeking to do is to point out the shared HYPOCRISY and
DISHONESTY in some of us [Ghanaians] especially the ruling elite having
observed the kind of treatment that is being meted out to the duo in their
attempt to campaign on our campuses. But before I proceed, I wish to, first and
foremost, remind you that per the GES Regulations, partisan politics and for
that matter political campaign is PROHIBITED in our second cycle
institutions/secondary schools. This is the very reason why political
associations like TESCON, TEIN, TESCHAT el al are NOT ALLOWED to be formed in
these schools, else that would make nonsense of the Regulation. However, same
is ALLOWED in our tertiary institutions. And that is why our politicians go
there every now and then to canvass for votes for their various political
parties.
But it
appears to me that some politicians in this country today, are more Ghanaians
than others. For instance, our media landscape is replete with stories
involving the Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu
Bawumia and how he is constantly being HARASSED and PREVENTED from addressing
students on our TERTIARY CAMPUSES by so called “authorities from above” even
after he is GRANTED PERMISSION by the relevant school authorities. How
pathetic! Meanwhile, we all know that Dr. Bawumia is not just a Ghanaian, but
one that has served his country diligently. Indubitably, his contribution
towards the socioeconomic development of Ghana cannot be exaggerated. The
internationally acclaimed celebrated Economist cum Chartered Banker, who also happens
to be a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana is credited with several
scholarly reforms and innovations in our fiscal and monetary space.
As a matter
of fact, it was during his reign at the Bank of Ghana that our cedi and economy
in general experienced the greatest stabilization ever in our history. And in
the final analysis, Ghana moved from the quagmire of a Highly Indebted Poor
Country (HIPC) to a Lower Middle Income Country, which meant that we had moved
from the control of the IMF and the World Bank. It is however very sad to note
that this Mahama government has taken us back to HIPC and now, the IMF has
become our “de facto government” because they dictate to us how to administer
our own country and live our lives. President Mahama, in his own words, says,
he had to take Ghana back to the IMF so we could get POLICY CREDIBILITY. I do not
want this article to focus much on Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his
legendary accomplishments and track-record in public office for God and country
but I guess, I’ve given you a little of how much he is worth. Yet, he is the
gentleman that is being constantly harassed and prevented from addressing
students on our tertiary campuses even though our Regulation/Convention allows
same.
JOHN DUMELO
Just like
Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, John Dumelo is also a Ghanaian and a popular
figure for that matter but in the Creative Arts Industry, otherwise known as Showbiz.
Unfortunately, I can say very little about him because I am not an ardent
follower of showbiz. But I have watched some of his movies and really enjoyed
them. I’ve also observed that he is an expert in romantic movies. All in all, I
can say that he is one of the finest movie stars we have in this country. From
where I sit, John Dumelo suddenly popped up in the nation’s political milieu
sometime last year when he took on critics of President Mahama over the
seemingly intractable dumsor conundrum which has engulfed this country,
collapsed several businesses and claimed innocent lives.
This
notwithstanding, John Dumelo did not understand why Ghanaians were being livid
and overly critical of the Mahama government and sought to plead with us to
exercise more patience and give the government the benefit of the doubt. As expected,
he (John Dumelo) came under fierce criticism from some well-meaning Ghanaians
including his colleagues in the movie industry especially Yvonne Nelson, Van
Vicker and Lydia Forson among others, who later organized the famous #DumsorMustStop
vigil in 2015. Fast forward to date, John Dumelo now decides to join the NDC
campaign train ahead of the 2016 elections. His modus operandi is to essentially
galvanize the youth and students of this country to support the NDC in the
November polls.
Now, the
hypocrisy in this is that, not only is John Dumelo given unimpeded and
unlimited access to our tertiary institutions to campaign for President Mahama
but he is also able to “storm” our secondary schools, where politics is
PROHIBITED per the GES Regulations to interact with first time voters. Yet, Dr.
Bawumia, another fine Ghanaian cannot do same; not even in our tertiary
institutions, where same is permissible. How unfair! So Dr. Bawumia, having
served this country diligently, cannot have access to students but John Dumelo,
who has never been a public officer but someone, who makes his money by kissing
people’s wives and girlfriends in the name of acting ROMANTIC MOVIES can. Well, I am not surprised because in Ghana, it
appears some people are more Ghanaians than others. In effect, we have two sets of laws in this country; one for
the politicians in the ruling class and the other, for the opposition including
you and I, who are not close to the corridors of power.
My
brother John Dumelo, Inasmuch as I cannot begrudge you for engaging in partisan
political campaign for President Mahama, I however think that the PLAYING FIELD
MUST BE LEVELED for all. You should also come out boldly to admit that, that is
what you are now doing and not the usual “hide and seek game”. My final words
to you, John Dumelo are that, kindly tell president Mahama, who you now work
for to honour his government’s promise of making some budgetary allocations to
the Creative Arts Industry, where you religiously belong. Maybe I should
remind you that the president made this promise when he met your colleagues in
the Industry at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi ahead of the 2012 general
elections. You can follow this link and refresh your memories:
I will be the first person to congratulate you if you are able
to do that. Your colleagues, or should I say, your former colleagues in the Creative
Arts Industry would forever be grateful to you. Our conscience will forever judge us. [END OF STORY]
Assalamu
alaikum
This piece
was compiled by a concerned Ghanaian in the business of OCCUPYING HEARTS and
MINDS for the love of God and country.
IDDI
MUHAYU-DEEN
Student
Activist/Social Commentator
Former NUGS
Secretary
(0245335197)
Please, it is
shareable….
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