Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Somebody dies... and I find it hard to feel sorry


Another human being dies, and my first thought is "it's a good thing".

Heartless? Hardly. But my heart goes to the millions of people who had to suffer under his rule, for this man was a dictator, of the "non-enlightened" type, one of those we seem to have an endless stock of on this continent. One disappears, and another emerges. Less than 24 hours after this announcement, the constitution is "suspended". Another captain saw his chance and decided to seize it.

1984... Ahmed Sekou Touré, Guinée's first president, dies. A week later, Lansana Conté stages a coup and seizes power.

2008... 24 years later, Lansana Conté, Guinée's second president, dies. People who had been champing at the bit for years proved ready to seize the occasion the very same day.

A coup is undisputably wrong, but the hypocrisy of "the rule of law" most African strongmen touted after the democracy puppet show of the 1990s make it an option not less viable than following the constitutional route. In Guinée notably, there is no way credible elections can be held within 60 days. It seemed so easy to amend the Constitution to allow the current ruler to be re-elected forever, yet nobody with legislative powers seemed to find desirable to amend the least realistic articles, which could very well become a problem once put to test.

Fortunately, other countries seem on the road to sustainable democracy. Ghana will have its runoff elections this coming Sunday. Nothing is ever perfect, but this country is trying hard. And apparently succeeding.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Important people ask me for favours

Hey, who would have thought I knew people high up? More to the point, that people high up are courting me for favours?

As you probably know already, Ghana is choosing a new president and new lawmakers today. I was very surprised to receive the following on my mobile phone:
Sender
: AkufoAddo


Text: Do you Believe In Ghana? Vote for me,Nana Akufo-Addo on 7th Dec for quality education,jobs,healthcare and a brighter future for our children.God Bless Ghana
Now this is interesting. I would never have thought somebody as important as Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate and, if I read the signs well, soon to be president elect, knows me or knows of me and values my modest person so much that he would text me to ask for my vote.

I'm terribly flattered and, had I been a Ghanaian, I would willingly have participated in this voting exercise. I may even have voted for him, out of sheer gratefulness and loyalty. After all, he was the only candidate to reach out to me.

Being a cynic and a bit paranoid too, I however wonder where Mr Nana Akufo Addo got hold of my mobile phone number. Did he (or his campaign) try all possible mobile phone numbers sequentially? Did he (or his campaign) buy listings from the mobile phone company? Doesn't the Ghanaian law frown upon this? Is it legal in Ghana to buy subscribers lists?

This is democracy in the making. International medias wow and ahhh about how advanced Ghana is in the exercise of democracy. Would they be as impressed by consumer protection as they are by Ghana's political maturity?