ElectionOpinion

Op-Ed: Open letter to president-elect, John Dramani Mahama

Radio Univers
Radio Univers
5 Min Read
President John Dramani Mahama

Dear President-Elect,

I am sure by now you are overwhelmed by the outpouring of congratulations from dignitaries and leaders across the world. I suppose mine may not seem significant because I am just a common citizenβ€”a citizen who is wondering where his next meal will come from. Therefore, pleasantries are a luxury I can ill afford. My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of how to survive today, tomorrow, and the days beyond. That is my daily battleβ€”a restless mind carried by a soul worn by exhaustion.

Mr. President, we are racing against time. A honeymoon is one we cannot afford during this crucial period, in case you needed a reminder. Unfortunately, the world is not pausing for us to catch up. As it spins faster, Ghana must keep pace. With candor, the congratulations are due not to you, but to the resilient Ghanaianβ€”for surviving, for managing to keep their heads above water, and for enduring the last eight years. We have emerged from the ashes, scattered and bruised, because it has been a long period of unending hardship. It is the audacity of hope that has kept us goingβ€”the glimmer of a better tomorrow at the end of the tunnel has been our fuel.

Mr. President, a new dawn breaks with citizens awake and aware. I want to presume you are fully conscious of the task at hand before reapplying for this job. Finally, you have been given the nod. But we, the citizenry, are growing impatient. Our tolerance has worn thin, and our threshold for excuses is at an all-time low. We have learned from our mistakes the hard way.

We have been punished for slumbering through the electoral off-season and only waking up to the havoc caused when the next election is imminent. We neglected our civic duty of holding leaders accountable and speaking truth to power when it mattered. But we now realize that only a fool fails to right his wrongs when given a second chance. Once bitten, twice shy.

Mr. President, I can assure you with certainty: this will be a long ride. You will not struggle to identify us because we will be in your face every day and at every moment. We have had enough sleep. Rest is for those who have achieved their dreams. We will hold your feet to the fire every passing day. We will breathe down your neck constantly. You have made a lot of promises and assurances, and we will hold you to them. Your words are bonds to us, and we expect their fulfillment. Kindly take note, Sir.

Mr. President, I hope you recognize that this overwhelming endorsement is not a personal vendetta. It is vengeance against all that we have lost over the years. It is a cry to salvage, manage, and grow what remains. We now understand that we equally deserve better. We know we deserve a functioning healthcare system.

We are aware that a progressive and inclusive educational system is not a privilege; it is our basic right. Good roads with proper markings that light up at night should not be a miracle. A working environment where citizens can meet their basic needs, where businesses and entrepreneurship thrive, and where growth and prosperity are encouraged should be the norm, not the extraordinary. We are not asking you to take us to the moon. We are asking you to provide the basics, Sir. When the basics are unmet, self-actualization remains nothing but a dream.

Mr. President, much has been said. I do not want to assume you are still unclear about the message. But for the avoidance of doubt, here is my simple request: I want a Ghana where the child of a nobody (like myself) can become somebody without knowing anybody. Mr. President, you must hit the ground running. Time is of the essence.

Sincerely,
Prince Hodedzi

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