To the powers in waiting

Have you seen the goodwill throughout the country that has brought you into office?

The same level of quiet ‘evil will’ will be applied to drive you out in eight years if you mess with Ghanaians. Remember!

Remember your struggles in opposition on the campaign trail, when you were teased about giving nkoko nkete nkete (small, small, chicks) as startups to farmers, rather than the bold policies needed to redress unemployment and poverty of households, when you meant that you would be starting as the capacity of each individual permitted and scale up!

Remember how you were trolled and had to endeavour to deflect the spin on your statement, not that it was lost on your main opponent, but they merely needed to twist the facts.

Remember, the strain of that!

Remember the twisting of your words, at the least opportunity. Indeed, your words were easy targets, to be twisted and corrupted for gain, in opposition.

Meanwhile, the words of your opponent, by virtue of his office, could not be twisted.

Remember the shine and aura of power, and the sacred office, that prevents anyone from messing with what you say.

As you remember, commit to always be honourable in your actions before Ghanaians, and you will always gain the trust of Ghanaians effortlessly to lead.

Remember the tedium of campaigning (at a point I felt sorry for you, as you sometimes looked stressed due to the strain on the campaign trail).

Remember the drain and effort that had to be put into meetings with chiefs, religious leaders, and various community leaders, to convince them to vote for you for the second time for this prestigious office.

Your opponent, meanwhile, had the support of state authority and resources on the campaign trail. It made campaigning easy, he could always afford to smile, even when tired.

Remember that in seeking my favour for the vote, you associated with me. You shook my hands on campaign grounds with no restraint or reservation; sometimes when the opportunity came, you stopped to speak with me.

Please, continue the conversations with me as you govern. Do not switch off as President, finding yourself not in my league to listen to me! Please, do not think yourself invincible in office.

If you do, Ghanaians will have the last laugh.

Remember that you are not particularly our preferred choice. We really did not have any choice. It was a choice between a rock and a hard place. We chose you, the hard place.

But please, remember to soften the hardness of your rule. Yes, leadership has a commanding aura.

Remember to make your command firm, but mild, and your presence accommodating of all.

Oh, Ghanaians are not the easiest to deal with.

We rarely analyse, and are quick to jump onto the bandwagon of criticisms, and often insults. However, be magnanimous always in your dealings with us.

Remember to always have a soft tongue towards your people, and not a harsh word, lest we record the harshness on our electronic devices or in our minds, to be playing it over and over again, for the conviction that you are not respectful of the people you rule, for us to show you the exit.

Remember that God sets up kings “...to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Daniel 4: 17

Email: caroline.boateng@graphic.com.gh