FEATURE: Tamale Congress: New NDC Pathways but an Old Road for JJ

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has emerged unscathed, stronger, united and focused from its Eighth National Delegates Congress in Tamale and is poised to execute its "Better Ghana Agenda" to retain the confidence of Ghanaians. I. MILLS: DREAMS IN SUSPENSE Better Ghana Agenda Too many new promises While old ones are being discarded Championed by a confused patriot Being pushed around by Heckled by the sculptor of delusions Delusions of political dross Of probity Of Accountability That never was Chaperoned by men who are foreign to sweat Sweetened by bulging stomachs of stately wealth Cheered on by sweat-infested supporters Who run in Charlie-woteys After politrickians empired in 4X4 BMWs, Cowards who marry politics To rape, plunder it Cowards whose only tomorrow is power Power to plunder the state Power to enrich their pockets Power to swell their egos Cowards who nurture street kids 10-year olds who sell dog chains Street kids who have no future Cowards who defer promises made to children Cowards whose only courage is theft Yet keep making new promises Even as they steal children�s diapers II.MILLS DREAMS DISCARDED Tomorrow�s promises are dead Today�s promises never see the horizon Let alone the sun Happy Ghana, Free Ghana The NDC Keeps weaving cottons of miragic promises As they lose the threads Of what can bring us To the brink of their better Ghana The sun departed with Mills Happy Ghana has been sabotaged By the one man who has a Kingdom And Tamale has given him another 20 years The King will remove his Tamale crown And scream in public Froth in public Foam like a fish out water Accuse all Ghanaians but himself Complain that Mills� crown is too heavy That Mills is a go-slow chap Like Swedru snails That Mills has put D after Team B Freedom was left behind with Mills Progress was left behind with Mills So the NDC King has come full circle A quest for another 20 years 20 years in the wilderness of delusions He will foam again So Mills extend your chords of cotton wool So Mill hold up our cotton wool Of our 20,000-plus seasons of cowardice To help clean up the foam of our lost dreams From our bumbling King The philosopher of our time The hero of one thief one toilet revolution Who now has 15 toilets to himself A paradox of history largely told *Akadu N.Mensema, Ph. D., is a nationalist Denkyira beauty. She is a trained oral historian cum sociologist and Professor in the USA. She lives in Pennsylvania with her great mentor and teaches Africa-area studies at a college in Maryland. In her pastime, she writes what critics have called �populist hyperbolic, satirical� poetry. She can be reached at [email protected]