Season’s greetings, political reflections, party time
Perhaps one of the reasons Christmas is such a big deal across the globe is that it is juxtaposed with the end of the year celebrations.
Of course, marking the end of the calendar year and ushering in a new one goes beyond any particular religion and, therefore, has a much wider global appeal.
‘Slow days’
In my time in the public sector, perhaps the most irritating reality around this time of the year was the fact that December 27-31 are actually working days.
I mean, how does one make merry, gorge on Christmas food and drink between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, then turn up for work looking all sober, plod through the next few days doing nothing significant at work, and then rush off on New Year’s Eve for another round of merry-making, gorging and drinking to usher in the new year?
Seriously, who turns up at any ministry or government agency to conduct any serious business on those particularly slow days?
If I ever become president of this republic, perhaps my first official act will be to sign an executive order declaring all those slow days as public holidays so that workers can take off on a long, uninterrupted bout of bingeing and partying. That is a manifesto promise you can take to the bank.
Triple December boost
I do not know what galvanised the powers that be to fix our general elections in the month of December, but I think it was a masterstroke.
What this means is that in every election year, December gets a triple boost ― an election, Christmas and the run-up to the new year, each with its own dynamics and drama but interwoven somewhat.
For the party that wins the elections, Christmas comes early and the partying and intense lobbying for appointments begin in earnest, in anticipation of actual power in a few weeks.
In December 2000, the icing on the NPP cake was that ultimately, the presidential election victory by its then candidate, J. A. Kufuor, proved to be a fabulous 62nd birthday gift to the ‘Gentle Giant’.
On the other hand, the losing party has to contend with hanging on rather miserably and almost impotently to the reins of power throughout the season in readiness for the transfer of power come January 7.
In that transition period, the party in office (not really in power) is, in effect, a caretaker government akin to a castrated bull in the vicinity of a cow in heat.
It is for this reason that I have always been a fan of the rather sharp, clinical and almost immediate transfer of power under the British political system following a general election loss by the party in government, without any lingering transition period.
Political reflections
Even though 2025 is not an election year, it commenced hot on the heels of a momentous election that saw a few historic firsts, and its ripples ran through the year.
I believe that twelve months down the line, both sets of political faithful have settled into their new political realities.
Aside from planning my rather hectic social calendar during the season in the capital, reflecting on a few personal issues in the course of the year and conceiving resolutions for the new year, most of which I know will crash spectacularly by the end of January 2026, I have also been reflecting on the political landscape since Election 2024, 12 months ago.
The people of Ghana spoke decisively on December 7, 2024, and my NDC friends are fully entitled to feel they are riding in the air, complete with bragging rights. I cannot possibly begrudge them that because they would have known no peace from me had the NPP won.
After all, following the 2016 elections, I called and texted many of them and taunted them to no end. One needs a strong heart to deal with the ebbs and flows of politics and football, I believe.
I accept too that generally speaking, new governments tend to get a honeymoon of sorts when they assume power, especially after a landslide win, with a tendency by a besotted electorate to overlook some errors and missteps, considering them as baby steps.
However, as I mentioned to an NDC friend the other day, the tendency by some of his compatriots to insist boldly that the NPP will not come to power for the next 50 years is mere puff suspended in pure fantasy.
We have seen it before. Around this time in 2017, after the launch of Free SHS on the back of a historic defeat of the NDC, some misguided NPP persons, sitting on cloud nine, loudly and airily made similar outlandish claims about the NDC.
Two elections later, we witnessed how it panned out ― an amazing reversal of political fortunes.
Political romance, hard reality
As with new marriages, routine and humdrum eventually settle in as the giddy, rose-tinted political romance checks in with reality.
I suppose it is this initial exhilaration, on the back of an overwhelming parliamentary majority, that is driving the ridiculous presidential third-term conversation being amplified by some political actors, including the Majority Leader of Parliament.
Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said, ‘a week is a long time in politics’.
This was to highlight the volatile nature of politics due to unexpected developments.
In today’s social media landscape of rolling news, citizen journalism and instant reach through technology and governments are potentially susceptible to developments in that space.
Flowing from this truism, a four-year term clearly constitutes political eternity, with many twists, turns and potential pitfalls along the way.
These include unexpected external shocks over which our governments have neither influence nor control, but which can send our economy into a tailspin, with grave political consequences.
‘Festina lente’ (hasten slowly) is a useful Latin saying to keep in mind when indulging in political bragging and prophecies.
Well, enough of the political reflections and unsolicited advice for now.
After all, it is the season of goodwill and fun, so let me go hone my dancing skills ahead of the party season, while reflecting on the birth of Christ and its significance for mankind.
A very merry Christmas to you all, dear readers.
Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng.
E-mail: rodboat@yahoo.com
