Is Paul Afoko Ejaculating Prematurely?

As the 2016 general elections approach, and before it is the test case in the election of the National executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), taking place this weekend in Tamale, the Northern Regional Capital. So as usual, as it has been the case since 1992, when we ushered in the 1992 Constitutional dispensation, the desperation within the ruling class is at its peak, tensions are mounting around religion, ethnicity and around geo-political zones, accusations and counter accusations are flying around, all for one thing and one thing only, power. How pathetic! The biggest loser so far in my estimation is Paul Afoko, one of the aspirants for the position of the national Chairman of NPP. The aspirant has finally confirmed my suspicion of him as inexperience, and will be a good choice for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), should he win the chairmanship race of his party. My interest in him heightened, when he appeared before the Vetting Committee of his party and was met with a petition filed by a sympathizer of the party, who alleged among other things that he was once incarcerated in the United Kingdom (UK), for a drug related case. As human as he was, he snapped and why not, how will you react when you think the rules of the game is not followed when it comes to you. When someone files a petition against you, the rules of natural justice demands that you be given a heads up and ample time to react to it, you don�t get confronted with it when you appear before a panel that is supposed to decide your faith. Despite this, a mature politician, who is sure of his innocence, will not go on air and using the least opportunity to throw mud and question the neutrality of the very process that will determine your eligibility or otherwise. Mr. Afoko allowed his ego and greed to get the better part of him. I have always asked myself, what gets people into politics, because in the midst of all that, the interest of the voter is lost. Paul Afoko, has made it abundantly clear through his actions and deeds that he does not understand the rules of the game and he is in the race perhaps because he has a deep pocket and is getting the support of former President John Agyekum Kufuor. Who in his right senses, barely a week to a major Congress like the gathering of the �Osono� family in Tamale, will write to the Election Committee, asking them to change the rules, because he has reservation about the composition of who is qualified to vote and who should not. The NPP, after losing the 2012 Presidential election blamed it on the Electoral Commission (EC), the alleged that the EC stole the election for President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC. They proceeded to the Supreme Court to have the results annulled, so that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo becomes the President, whilst Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, their Star Witness becomes the Vice-President. The Supreme Court protected the votes of the people and held that John Mahama was the validly elected President. If what happened in 2013 was anything to go by, then Ghanaians must brace themselves up for a showdown in 2016. This is because the NPP will again lose that election and imagine what they will do, with Paul Afoko as the party chairman. He wants to be a litigant, who sees nothing good and sees everything wrong with their own internal process. Should he surmount this hurdle, which I doubt, Ghanaians and the NDC, as well as the EC, must know that they are next. He will make this country ungovernable, when his party losses the 2016 elections. My prayers was answered, when names started coming out about the possible candidates for the various national executive positions, namely; Chairman, General Secretary, Youth Organiser etc. I heaved a sigh of relief, because sooner names and personalities like Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the National Chairman and Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, will finally say goodbye to national politics and their �bugaga� politics with no substance will be a thing of the past. Little did I know that those lurking around to take over from them are equally worse and guilty of the offence for which Ghanaians no longer take politicians seriously. Paul Afoko, has started giving us the indication of what is to come, should he lose the chairmanship race. He has started sowing the seeds of non-acceptance, a defeatist attitude to start seeing fault with the process, right from the beginning to the end. At the last count, they are three other contestants in the race for the chairmanship position, i.e. incumbent Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, twice defeated Stephen Ntim, this man has a lot in common with Nana Addo, and Fred Oware. I am yet to hear any of these gentlemen; especially Stephen Ntim and Fred Oware raise any queries about the process, why does Paul Afoko think, like Nana Addo, it is his birth right to be Chairman of his party. The NPP, has cheapened politics to the extent that every Tom, Dick and Harry think that once they have money and can claim allegiance to the two colossus in the party, Nana Addo and John Kufuor, he or she can also lead the flock. Paul Afoko is expecting to win sympathy votes, because the national delegates Conference is to be held in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital. What is ahead of him is not a child�s play. If he is afraid of competition, then politics is not the profession for him. I wish all the contestants the best of luck.