Sunday,
May 17, 2015
Folks, those of
us who have been bold enough to challenge the government's handling of the
energy crisis in the country are relieved that despite all the childishness
that characterized the rhetoric preceding the May 16 street demonstration by
those angry at the prolonged "Dumsor" albatross and their opponents,
the event passed off without any untoward happening.
It is only one
in the series of practical actions and negative outbursts by Ghanaians feeling
the pinch of the energy crisis and compelled beyond all reasonable doubts to
make their voices heard. No matter what happened before, during, or after the
May 16 show of anger---or how the bitter criticisms against the
"Dumsor" crisis have been received or rebuffed by the
government---the street demonstration has sent a clear message that the
government has no other option but to respect: that Ghanaians are fed up with
its inability to solve the electricity problem and will do whatever they can to
register that sentiment.
What happened in
Accra is only an inkling of the deep-seated anger that is seething in them
nationwide. Who knows the extent to which this public display of anger and
frustration will go ext? Clearly, the political implications cannot be missed:
the government is the loser!!
Once it is
established that life in the modern era cannot be lived without electricity, it
is incumbent on those with the power to pull the purse strings to use public
funds to provide electricity for consumption in every sector of national life.
Unfortunately, the government hasn't been responsible enough to recognize that
fact nor has it been smart enough to solve the problem without creating room
for it to be politicized. Forget about the constant declaration of intents and
purposes. The people can read between the lines!!
What has
happened is a clear eye-opener. The government already has its back to the wall
and should be grateful to those pressing the button for it to know that
anything that will culminate in the electoral decisions to be made at Election
2016 will rely heavily on this electricity crisis and its impact on national
life.
We cannot now
quantify the enormous negative fallouts; but we can say that much of what is
happening to worsen living conditions can be blamed on this energy crisis. It
is a terrible blot on the government's handling of issues that must be
acknowledged and tackled. Even in this situation, the prices of petroleum
products have been raised (Seehttp://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomeP…/NewsArchive/artikel.php…) and there is talk of tariff for the scarce
electricity to be raised. A time-bomb being set already? How much pressure can
the government put on the people without expecting them to "explode"?
And is the government that much insensitive?
Assurances that
the "Dumsor" crisis will be tackled cannot be accepted unless
supported with practical evidence. One particular aspect for which the
government must be grateful is that those condemning it over this
"Dumsor" problem haven't hidden their political bent---some threatening
to vote against it at Election 2016 and others revealing that they will use
this issue as a political electioneering campaign bait.
These people
have insisted that this "Dumsor" problem has negatively affected
their businesses and will definitely influence their electoral decisions.
Whether they are already known as avowed opponents of the NDC or not is
immaterial. What matters at this point is that the government's own inability
to solve the problem has exposed its underbelly for attack.
That is why the
government must act with circumspection and do things decisively/expeditiously
so it can solve this problem to save its future. Only then will it redeem
itself.
Once the climate
has been set, we should expect more. Even if it solves the problem eventually,
lingering doubts will still influence "doubting minds" still unsure
of its honesty and integrity; and its avowed opponents will intensify their
campaigns to undo it at Election 2016, clearly because they will appeal to a
wider constituency than they did in previous elections.
The government's
own mis-steps that have angered the labour front, particularly, are evident.
Those workers who have been laid off or those who have suffered adversely from
this electricity crisis will not forgive it soon. Others are nursing their own
grievances.
Within this
context, it is politically expedient for the government to tread cautiously so
it doesn't inflame passions all the more. Its functionaries who are still
unsure of what the real political capital is or where it lies should be
cautioned in their public utterances and political posturing.
When everything
settles down after all, it will not be difficult to conclude that this
"Dumsor" crisis has turned out to be the government's worst enemy.
Forget about the NPP. It is this "Dumsor" that will make or mar its
political fortunes.
Something has to
be done quickly to remake the government's political will. The street
demonstration just held should be seen as the urgent call to action. Only then
will anything coming from officialdom be relevant to the agenda for a
"Better Ghana". How can there be a "Better Ghana" when the
energy crisis throws everything out of gear?
It must be
pointed out that the main consideration for determining victory or defeat at future
elections will not be solely based on “development projects” or other
superficial issues as ethnicity, character traits of candidates, or any other
substance that has no direct bearing on the lives of the people. That main consideration
will have to do with how the government in power seeking re-election has
instilled hope in the citizens for a brighter and secure future in which they
will live their lives in decency and be assured that their political will and
contributions toward sustaining democracy are worthwhile.
The citizens
will want to repose trust and confidence in the political authority that knows
how to use the resources of the country to improve living conditions and not to
“dance around the target” to erode everything that they have stood for all
these decades under self-rule. That is the challenge.
The government
has to re-engineer itself in the light of the “wake-up calls” now being sent to
it under the auspices of the “Dumsor” crisis so it can do better than it has
done so far. Only then will it endear itself to the people to be retained in
power. Anything short of that will be a culmination of running a fool’s errand.
And who wants to do so but a celebrated fool who doesn’t know how to use
political power to advantage? I am not done yet and will return.
·
E-mail:
mjbokor@yahoo.com
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the conversation.
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