Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, to be truthful with Ghanaian youth as he campaigns for re-election on December 7.
He argued that Mr. Mahama’s initiative risks creating the false impression that he can resolve the problems facing the youth when, in reality, such solutions do not exist.
Prof. Gyampo further urged the former President to be candid and inform the youth that “only hard work can rebuild a country that is on its knees.”
In a Facebook post, the lecturer said the promises “if not managed well, may create more disappointments. Around this time, every cohort in the voting population would want to hear something about what can be done to help them. But realistically, it would take a lot of strenuous effort to properly rebuild what has been destroyed and regain what is lost”.
According to him, “Young people must be made to know quite frankly that, given the challenges that lie ahead of us as a people, it would have to be tough before it becomes easier. We would all have to tighten our belts a little more, from whoever heads the country to the lowest rated citizen. From the topmost politician to the party foot-soldier, all must brace themselves to endure a little more suffering, after which things would begin to ease up”.
He recounted that “Jerry Rawlings in his second bid to win power in the 1996 General Elections, articulated this type of message cleverly and in a manner that should be emulated. He said he won’t promise anyone anything and that all he could promise was hardwork which would in turn pay off to meet the needs of all”.
He further cautioned politicians “to be measured in the expectations they create, even if it is still true that “y3 te sika so, nanso 3k)m de y3n”, in order to avoid further disappointments that can threaten the very survival of our democracy and peace.”
