Agenda 2020…

When I was much younger, somewhere in the mid-nineties, I heard of ‘Vision 2020’.

This was apparently a coordinated programme of economic and social development plan for the country between 1996 and 2020.

At the time, the year 2020 seemed so far away, and I even suspected Christ would return for Judgement Day before then.

On the brink of 2020

Today, the national vision seems to have been lost or discarded somewhere along the line in the mists of time, the files and reports probably attracting rats and dust in a dank basement somewhere in the capital. Christ has still not turned up with his trumpet-blowing angels.

The skies have not fallen through.

The global fears of a computer meltdown or super glitch, as we stood on the brink of the transition from 1999 and 2000 is a long-forgotten memory.

On the first day of this year, nature’s timeless routine continued at its own pace, totally oblivious to mankind’s excitement after the manufactured clocks finished their countdown and the fireworks and hallelujahs exploded at the stroke of midnight to herald a new year.

On New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day, the church pews overflowed and so did the drinking bars.

Some were lost in meditation and prayer, while others were hopelessly lost in alcohol, their legs barely holding up as they staggered home in the wee hours.

Individually, many made and continue to make resolutions to do all manner of things; be nicer to people, re-evaluate their friendships, stop or reduce drinking, buy a piece of land, get married, hit the gym–you name it.

By mid-January, it will be back to default settings for many as the stiff, steely resolutions go as limp as an overripe banana. Personally I gave up on new year resolutions a number of years ago–it was rather pointless.

The Crystal Ball

So what does the two-week old 2020 hold in store for us as a nation?

Peering at my rather cloudy crystal ball, I think the most obvious big thing will be the general election in December.

Already, both main parties, the New Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, are firing shots from their bows and lacing their boots for the battle ahead. And what a battle it will be.

For the first time, we will have a former president demanding his job back and trying to dislodge a man he probably considers as an usurper. On the other hand, you have an incumbent president who does not relish the thought of following his immediate predecessor into the unhappy hall of fame of one-term presidents.

Both men have beaten each other once and the 2020 Election will settle who, between the two men, is the real champion.

It will be an interesting duel and I look forward to an enjoyable campaign.

Of course, as is the case with all our election campaigns, the peace industry will rise to remind us all rather shrilly that we are one people et cetera and so we should not fight, as if we are on the verge of bludgeoning each other savagely with clubs and machetes.

At the end of the day, we will go and vote peacefully, following which one of the two leading candidates shall retire the other permanently from politics.

I have no doubt in my mind that the President will retain the mandate of the people. You can put me down as one of the nation’s political prophets.

Beyond Year of Return

Undoubtedly, the Year of Return project has been an astounding success this year and has put Ghana firmly on the map.

But that is not enough.

It must be sustained and grown going forward, and I was pleased to note that recently the President launched the ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative.

While East Africa has its amazing game reserves and the Caribbean has its pristine beaches, we have a unique strength in our forts and castles that can draw in the crowds, especially for African Americans on a quest to trace their roots and connect with their past in a quasi-spiritual way.

With proper planning and initiative, we can brand the Cape Coast and Elmina castles in particular into our version of the Jewish concentration camp-turned museum in Auschwitz, Poland–a solemn, grim reminder of what their forebears went through.

I am confident that exciting times lie ahead.

Dear reader, may your 2020 be blissful.

May you find this year’s column fun and engaging on all manner of subjects, a true potpourri.

Thank you for keeping the faith with this column so far.

By Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng
Writer’s E-mail: rodboat@yahoo.com)