Election 2008: A Battle for Survival

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Let's first get something straight; the NPP shall win Election 2008 by a landslide. The NPP's survival is therefore not in question, and is not the subject of this thread.

The battle for survival is rather between the Nkrumah and Rawlings traditions. The Nkrumah tradition is represented by the CPP under the leadership of Nduom, while the Rawlings tradition is represented by the NDC under the "leadership" of Prof Mills.

Ghana since independence, has had room for only two traditions at any point in its political history. As you all know, the period from the 50s to the late 70s/ early 80s, was dominated mainly by the Nkrumahists and the Danquah-Dombo-Busiaists.

The Rawlings tradition then made its bloody entrance onto the nation's political stage. It ruthlessly executed its agenda of decimating the Nkrumah tradition to make room for itself. Its mission has largely been successful even as the Nkrumah tradition has been confined to the political fringes.

But hold on... the Rawlings tradition could not completely chop off the head of the Nkrumah tradition while it was down. The Nkrumah tradition has been revived, and is staging a comeback under the able leadership of Paa Kwesi Nduom.

The Rawlings tradition is now in panic mode and trying to reinvent itself. In fact, they are so desperate they now even deny being a RAWLINGS tradition - a development the people of Ghana find very amusing. The growing sense of desperation within this tradition is best captured by the recent utterances and actions of Jeremiah John Rawlings, who seems to have lost confidence in the ability of the 2 johns (Mills and Mahama) to save his dying political party. Despite efforts by John Mills to win the approval of his mentor Rawlings, as symbolized by his withdrawal of his initial decision to accept a national award after his mentor had signaled his disapproval, Rawlings continues to blame him for the misfortunes of the NDC. Rawlings even went as far as to suggest that Mills is a blind man, booming “open your eyes”; something many of us find below-the-belt given that Rawlings is actually to blame for the misfortunes of Mills and the p/NDC.

The chances of the Rawlings political tradition in its battle for survival against the Nkrumah tradition, has been hurt further by the continued utterances of its father and founder. Anytime Rawlings speaks, Ghanaians are reminded of the fact that his political tradition was founded on the “principles” of violence, public mayhem and disorder; and that Mills (the so-called Asomdweehene) is only being used as a “window dressing”. Why else would Chairman Rawlings try to re-ignite the Dagbon conflict when peace is almost at hand?

Despite these developments, it would be suicidal for the Nkrumah tradition to under-rate the Rawlings tradition. The NDC has successfully infiltrated the CPP and is now trying to undermine Nduom from within. Is it not interesting that all the attacks against Nduom have been launched by so-called CPP comrades who served under the PNDC?

Has the Nkrumah tradition learnt any lessons from its previous decimation by the Rawlings political tradition, or history is going to repeat itself? Will the Rawlings political tradition survive the revival of the Nkrumah political tradition under the leadership of Nduom? Who wins this battle for survival? It is not an understatement when the Rt. Rev. BBK of SIL fame says Dec 2008 is looming large. Indeed, interesting times lie ahead.