The dust has settled. The 2024 elections are over, and by God’s grace, Ghana, our cherished motherland, stands in peace and not in pieces. In the face of all the uncertainties and fears, we can breathe a collective sigh of relief that our democracy remains intact.
After all, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)—for peace, more than any political victory, is the foundation upon which we can rebuild and move forward.
Now, as the baton of leadership passes to our brothers in the NDC, it is our duty as citizens, not just as political actors, to pray for the success of their administration. For in their success lies the welfare of our nation. However, let our support be rooted in integrity, not sycophancy; in constructive criticism, not blind antagonism; and in patriotism, not self-serving propaganda. Let us avoid what I will term “Abrakwatisms”—the toxic habit of playing to the gallery with unguarded, divisive, and unpatriotic rhetoric that serves no purpose but to inflame passions and deepen our divisions.
The Pain of Defeat: A Time for Introspection
Elections, by their nature, evoke emotions. Victory brings celebration and a sense of vindication; defeat often births anger, frustration, and blame. But as Ecclesiastes reminds us, “To everything there is a season…a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). This is a season to mourn our loss but also to reflect and learn.
It is human nature, after a defeat, to point fingers and demand accountability from leaders. Leadership, after all, determines the fate of movements and organizations. Yet, the blame game, when unchecked, often becomes a double-edged sword, leading us to “cut off our noses to spite our faces.”
This brings us to the man at the center of it all—Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Dr. Bawumia: A Victim of Cupidity and Recklessness
Dr. Bawumia’s leadership journey was one of grace, humility, and vision. Yet, as fate would have it, these very qualities became his Achilles’ heel. His openness, inclusiveness, and efforts to unite all factions were exploited by selfish, reckless individuals whose greed overshadowed the collective mission.
Like the biblical Samson, whose strength was betrayed by misplaced trust (Judges 16), Dr. Bawumia’s greatest flaw may have been his inability to guard his humility and protect his vision from internal sabotage. He was, in many ways, too accommodating, mistaking wolves for sheep and giving room to avaricious opportunists who lacked the virtues of discipline, respect, and selflessness.
Ironically, these saboteurs came not from the usual suspects—the Northern brothers, the Ashantis, or the Akyems—but from a group traditionally known for their discipline and integrity. Yet, instead of reflecting those values, many of them embodied the very vices that our party has always fought against. Did they truly love Dr. Bawumia? Or were they merely opportunists riding the wave of his vision? Time, as always, will expose their intentions.
A Leader Without Gravitas
Unlike former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo, whose towering personalities commanded natural authority, Dr. Bawumia’s leadership style leaned heavily on humility and persuasion rather than dominance and control. While this approach endeared him to many, it also made him vulnerable to manipulation by those who mistook kindness for weakness.
Perhaps, like Moses who struggled with the burdens of leadership (Exodus 18:13-27), Dr. Bawumia was weighed down by the enormity of the task. Yet, even Moses had to learn that leadership requires both wisdom and boundaries.
The Seeds of Defeat Were Sown Early
The factors that led to our downfall were not sudden; they were gradual and visible long before 2024. Arrogance, complacency, and divisiveness—these were the cracks in our armor. We handed our enemies weapons through unguarded utterances and questionable choices. And while some of us raised alarms, they were drowned out by the noise of pride and false confidence.
To quote the philosopher Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” And indeed, by failing to address internal issues early, we left ourselves exposed.
Conservatism and Change: Can We Evolve?
Another critical factor worth examining is our party’s tendency toward conservatism. While this has been a strength in preserving values, it has also been a weakness when it comes to adapting to changing times.
The appointment of gerontocrats—elders with vast experience but perhaps limited connection to modern realities—reflects this struggle. While their wisdom is valuable, it must be balanced with youthful energy and innovation. As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus observed, “Change is the only constant in life.” If we are to rise again, we must learn to evolve without losing our identity.
A Call to Rebuild: A New Beginning
The road ahead is challenging, but it is not without hope. Just as the Israelites rebuilt Jerusalem after exile (Nehemiah 2:17-18), so too must we rebuild our party and our vision. This will require humility, accountability, and a willingness to learn from our mistakes.
We must return to the values that made us strong—discipline, integrity, inclusiveness, and respect. We must root out the foxes that spoil the vine and guard against the influences of greed and selfish ambition. Most importantly, we must put the collective good above personal gain, remembering that “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
Final Words: The Elephant Will Rise Again
In the spirit of hope, let us rise from this defeat with renewed vigor. Let us embrace change, prune the weeds, and plant new seeds of unity and purpose. The elephant may have stumbled, but it is not broken.
“May the elephant find its way home, and may we, with renewed unity and purpose, stand ready to protect it when it does. For as the vine flourishes with careful pruning, so too will our efforts thrive if we guard against the little foxes that threaten our progress.
And so, the jungle waits, and so do we. The question remains—when the call to rebuild unity and love is sounded, will we rise to answer? Only time will tell.”