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Opinions of Monday, 27 December 2021

Columnist: Anthony Obeng Afrane

Is Ghana's election 2024 predetermined?

There are already talks about the 2024 elections in Ghana There are already talks about the 2024 elections in Ghana

Folks, I’m going to give you an interesting account of the Titanic disaster. Please don’t stop halfway, continue reading to the end. This article promises to be one of the most insightful of all my write-ups, it is supposed to point out the futility and the mystery of life – that nothing is certain – that anything at all can happen to anybody at any time; and so, there is the need to be humble.

Titanic was the largest moving object ever built by the hands of men in the early 20th century. She was about three football fields long and 11 stories high and was able to carry an impressive 3,547 passengers and crew.

Another tidbit of interest is that the Titanic had some very admirable stats, features, and luxuries. $7.5 million was used to build her in 1912. By today’s standards, it would cost roughly $400 million. Her launch was witnessed by more than 100,000 people.

Surprisingly, the name of the Titanic typifies arrogance. According to Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of giants with extraordinary power. But, they were boundlessly arrogant and plotted to overthrow the gods (Zeus, etc.) For this, they were punished by the gods by being thrown into the depths of Tartarus (a mythological hell).

As her name may suggest it was believed that the Titanic was unsinkable and invincible and that it had watertight compartments which can keep the vessel afloat if anything goes wrong. One person is reported to have asked a baggage porter when boarding the Titanic, “Is this ship really nonsinkable?”

“Oh yes, mum. God, Himself could not sink this ship,” was the man’s quick reply.

When news of the Titanic disaster began to reach the United States, it was reported that Philip Franklin, the Vice President of White Star Line, the company which built and owned the ship, stated unequivocally, “We place complete confidence in this vessel. We believe that she is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers.”

After learning that Titanic did indeed founder, Franklin persisted, “I thought her unsinkable and I based my opinion on the best expert advice.”

On Monday, April 15, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and completely sank within some hours with a terrible loss of life. The final total of survivors was 706 and 1,502 were lost. There are life lessons to be gleaned from the story of Titanic – it pays to be humble: and also it is only God who controls the future.

Against this background, I cringe when I hear people arrogating to themselves attributes of God by boasting in public who they will hand overpower. I shudder when I see people throwing their weights about and boasting that, their party will rule for several decades. Are they God? Who ever thought the current Speaker will lead Parliament?

"Krom ayeshi" and from the numerous public agitations, outcry, and recent happenings, I want to believe that God has frowned upon the blasphemous pronouncements and despicable behaviours of some people, and it is a mathematical certainty – pure and simple that a certain political party in Ghana will lose the 2024 elections. There is no way out! It could be an act of God – a judgment against some people for their arrogance as it happened to the Titanic.