Weekend of fun, work, politics

It has been a rather busy weekend. First was a wedding in Cape Coast on Saturday.

It was a rather simple yet elegant affair, the only snag being that the reception was about three hours behind schedule.

Knowing Ghanaian weddings, I fortified myself in the morning with a generous serving of ‘waakye’ with all its trimmings, which is quite helpful in times like this.

All I needed was some water to keep topping up my gastronomic fare earlier in the day. When eventually lunch was served at the reception, I had the luxury of pretending to be an elegant, delicate eater, which was important because I was placed on the high table and could not afford to be seen voraciously wolfing down food.

A few forkfuls later, followed by some delicate dabbing of the lips, I was done.

Takoradi-bound

On Sunday morning, I made my way to Takoradi’s GSTS campus, where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was launching its 2024 election manifesto.

Of course, it appeared literally the whole party had descended upon the oil city, and pretty soon, the students had become minority strangers on their own campus, curiously peeking at the spectacle playing out before them from their balconies and beds – the dancing, the loud music blaring from giant speakers, the sloganeering, and the vendors of party memorabilia, indomie, boiled eggs with pepper, soft drinks, gum, handkerchiefs and literally anything that could assure a quick sale on this big occasion.

I am sure that for many of the students, this was a welcome diversion from the otherwise dreary daily routines of boarding life on secondary school campuses.

The ceremony took place in the school’s 2,500-capacity assembly hall, yet the number of those sitting under canopies outside watching the events in the hall from a large screen together with those just ambling around catching up with old friends seemed to outnumber those seated indoors.

For some, it was an ‘it is possible’ carnival of sorts and no more, with branded trucks and buses from all over the Western Region and beyond blowing mini ‘vuvuzelas’ and dancing.

From what I could see, these party faithful and party workers appeared quite fired up for the campaign, and the raw, unadulterated love, perhaps bordering on obsession, was evident.

In any election campaign, it is critical for a serious political party to fire up the party grass-roots footsoldiers to go out there and do the arduous, frontline work – putting up posters, engaging in house-to-house campaigns to get out the vote and more, often at great personal inconvenience and for little remuneration, yet anchored in deep love for their party.

They are the true, if unsung, heroes of our political campaign season.

Inside the hall, the big speeches were rolling out as the programme got underway, with intermittent loud cheers. Ahead of the event, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) friend had texted me that he was sure the running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, would have what he described as ‘a moment’ when it was his turn to speak.

After Dr Prempeh’s rousing speech which drew loud cheers and applause I called my friend to gloat.

He stubbornly refused to pick up his call. I will keep trying, and I will corner him one of these fine days. I know he and those who think like him have no idea where to bury their heads. Good.

Even though it had been a rather long day, when it eventually came to the turn of Dr Bawumia to deliver his final address, the thunderous applause shook the rafters.

Then he stood up and spoke for about an hour, setting out his vision for the country and the bold solutions his government would pursue if granted the mandate this year.

With this, the NPP’s 2024 manifesto highlights, a 44-page document, was formally launched. All in all, I found the speech warm, hitting the right notes. 

The 44-page document was in stark contrast to the party’s 2016 and 2020 manifestos, which ran well over 100 pages.

I think this is a positive development that helps to break down the communication in politically edible piecemeal by way of graphics, since many people do not have much time to peruse even a relatively slim 44-page manifesto, and the party’s communication wing has begun to do just that. 

Petroleum Hub

Personally, I have had little time to digest the document, for the simple reason that an official engagement beckoned, for which some preparations had to be made, including some travel outside Takoradi.

As I write on Sunday night, Ministry of Energy officials are preparing for the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday by the President for the construction of a Petroleum Hub in the Jomoro enclave in Western Nzema.

The three-phase $12billion hub, is expected to result in the construction on a 20,000-acre parcel of land of: (i) 300,00bpsd refinery; (ii) 3 million cubic meters of storage tanks; (iii) a petrochemical plant; (iv) jetty and port infrastructure; (v) offer base and ancillary infrastructure and (vi) develop social amenities.

The project is private sector-led, and hinges on an export driven strategy to seize and serve the AfCFTA market, with over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs to be created as a result.  This is no doubt huge and ambitious.

It is indeed possible. 

Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng,
Head, Communications & Public Affairs Unit,
Ministry of Energy.
E-mail: rodboat@yahoo.com

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System Summary

Weekend of fun, work, politics

The article begins by exploring the social aspect of weekends in Ghana, where people often gather for family events, community activities, and social gatherings.  The author notes that weekends are a time for relaxation and enjoyment but also an opportunity to reinforce relationships within communities.

It also delves into how Ghanaians often use weekends to balance work and personal life. Many individuals take advantage of the weekend to catch up on work or engage in professional networking. 

The article describes how even casual gatherings can turn into platforms for political discussions, reflecting the deep-seated interest in national affairs that permeates Ghanaian society. Whether at social events or during casual conversations, politics is a common topic, with individuals often engaging in debates and discussions about current events and governance.

In conclusion, the article portrays the weekend as a microcosm of Ghanaian life, where the lines between fun, work, and politics blur. It suggests that understanding this blend is key to appreciating the cultural fabric of Ghana, where social interactions, professional duties, and political awareness coexist in harmony.