Empty barrels make the most noise

Why I think the NDC is not an option We here in the diaspora are very distressed to hear that Ghana is going on a runoff but we are equally delighted to hear that because of the opportunity to voice our ideas too. The National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party are parties that have stayed in the race for that long. With the NPP and NDC, we assume either of them is a party right for Ghanaians. But before we settle on that, we must ask ourselves what is actually happening to us, our children and the future of our country. I read a comment on myjoyonline.com where someone was suggesting America, Britain and Germany who are the world’s leading economies never had an easy ride up the hill. It took patience and time to get the country on the highway, many people had to starve, experiment and even die to make America what it is today. Relating life in Ghana to America, it logically cannot be different. But Ghanaians tend to simplify too many things. I am saying this because, I don't think if a Ghanaian is given a ticket (or fined) for crossing the red light, or for failing to strap a minor in the car, he/she would like it. The government of America takes everything you work for here in America and then still want you to pay even more. What makes America easier to stay in is that you can spend money that you don't have and pay later because of it's adaptation of the credit card system. But even with that, it's not easy to come by an approval for a credit card since you will have to go through a lot of verification processes before you will be approved to spend what you don't have. I will use my own experience for an example. I work for 8 hours everyday standing throughout the period and I am paid $8.50 an hour on my paycheck. 7% of the eight dollars go to the federal government, 3% for the state government, 3% for my social security tax, 2% for my medicare tax and about 3% for the payment of my uniform given to me for work. This amounts to 18% percent of my gross salary being taken even before I get it, plus I pay electricity, water and gas bills, which all together takes about 50% of my net salary. I then have to pay for rent, almost 45% of what I have left of my net pay. Then after all these, I have to take care of my family. I have to Get food for them, Get some school fees paid, get even something to send back home for others who regularly need my help. And remember, all I have left is about 5% of my biweekly salary which can't take care of all I have said so the only option is to resort to junk jobs after my regular working shifts. Any Ghanaian is willing to do this over here because he has a motive and believes he/she can still make it here. This is all we need to get our country on the road. We need to create opportunities for ourselves and have the government harness what we work for to develop the country. Everyone agrees there are no funds set aside for neither the NDC nor the NPP to use as revenue for job creation, road networks and even free food stamps that Ghanaians think Americans have. NPP and NDC must be put on a weighing scale to measure who actually performed in the interest of the people during their term since we are now left with the choice between just the two of them. Citizens First is a motto here in the United States. And there is no doubt that it should be the first priority of any good government. The NDC has a proven bad record of infringing human rights, violence, and extra-judicial killings. But the NPP is also accused of a few that I dare say are only alleged and trumpeted by propaganda machinery. The NPP has been a friendlier government than the NDC did during its term. The NPP is credited with better managing the economy and preparing good grounds for economic growth which is yet to be exploited but hindered by the Bad economic situation worldwide. The NDC never had such recognition during their term. The P/NDC was given enough time to prove they had something for the country (19 years), but failed to please the people, while the NPP has proved, at least, somewhat better in just eight years. The NDC did a great job with the construction of roads, while the NPP has also done a good job in the same area. The NDC protected the country very securely, the NPP has not failed to protect the country both internally and externally. Ghanaians should not buy all the claims by the NDC that the NPP is trying to buy votes from them by releasing imprisoned taxi drivers, reducing fuel prices to gain votes, protecting the seas of the country to win favor. This is not a fertile claim for the NDC and what it rather means, logically, is that they are not interested in the development of the country but just bent on getting power. Ghanaians should always know that the NDC can have good plans for the country, under the term of a new candidate, but they should also know that the future is at stake and the policy of the party (NDC) never changes. Whoever serves as a presidential candidate for the party is bound to the policies of the party. I fail to understand that because living conditions are not perfect, Ghanaians should dream of throwing out the incumbent government and reverting to the NDC under whose regime things were relatively worse. Ghanaians must know that if they are willing to change a government, they should change it for better results and not to worsen their plight. Think about setting a secure future for your kids, Ghanaians, think about having access to education for your kids and they will come make the nation a better future for your old age. The NDC should under no circumstance be recommended for Ghanaians at the moment. The NDC is not an option. The NDC is worse in all circumstances. Remember the Akan proverb that says "Empty barrels make the most noise" Watch out for the NDC. Credit: Theophilus Osei-Boakye

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