By Bernard Asubonteng
There is an element of truth in the notion that desperate times call for desperate measures, utterances, or behaviours at some point in human affairs. Here, former President JD Mahama’s unguarded pronouncements, and public demeanours underpin his true state of sociopolitical distress, nervousness and insecurities.
Many of us have been stressing all along that Ghanaians don’t need analytical knowledge or mental adroitness of a top-notched neurosurgeon to know and understand that Mr JD Mahama, from all accounts, is a desperate ex-president turned presidential candidate trying hard to prank his way back to power.
In all seriousness, if one was to write a thought-provoking book or conduct research on the influx or the climax of ‘sakawa boys’ phenomenon in Ghanaian body politic today, the previous Mahama-led administration would be the most significant case study. Indeed, there are epic trail of evidence and verifiable narratives regarding the politics of ‘sakawa’ entrenched in ‘create, loot, and share’ of the nation’s meager resources that became buzz phrase under Mr Mahama’s presidency.
Transformation
No doubt, the Ghanaian society has undergone dramatic transformation, and some of these changes can be attributed to the omnipresence of the social media revolution. On the heels of this huge societal evolution are the incorporation or adoption of local slangs or locally-coined words such as ‘419, sakawa, galamsey, format, and many others.
One of the most popular among the ‘street words” in the country today is ‘sakawa.’ In fact, many of the foregoing local slangs were not in vogue when some of us were growing up or living in Ghana—Kumasi to be precise. So, upon inquiries from some friends and family members back home, it became clear the term ‘sakawa’ conveys a derogatory meaning, among others, fraudulent practices of groups or an individual given to shady, dishonest, mischievous scamming with corrupt intent.
Based on the above definition of ‘sakawa’, it’s quite laughable but not surprising that the ‘Incompetent One’ and the most corrupt regime of the recent memory, led by Mr JD Mahama, could have the temerity to mock or describe President Akufo-Addo, including part of his extended family/relatives in Eastern Region as ‘Akyem mafia, sakawa’ people. Where does this tribal dog whistle come from, JD Mahama?
Psychological distress
At any rate, Mr Mahama’s public utterances and campaign strategy shouldn’t surprise fair-minded observers who also have some basic insights with regards to a person in psychological distress, borne out of frustration and the looming fear of failure. Going by his abysmal and ‘sakawa’ inclined presidency, the current NDC flagbearer knows his chances of coming back to power is bleak. This impending political doom and infamy are giving him night sweats and insomnia.
We know Reverse Psychology 101 will explain Ghana’s ‘most entitled’ presidential contestant JD Mahama as enabling—under the radar— behaviour that tends to patronize the exact opposite of such behaviour he harbours.
In simple terms, people who are thieves behind closed doors are often the loudest or meanest in demonizing someone caught in thievery, just to shift attention elsewhere.
Certainly, if the ‘sakawa boys’ phenomenon is like the game of football, ex-President Mahama will surely rub elbows with the likes of Messi, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Eto’o, Drogba, and other nimble global soccer superstars.
Metaphorically, these footballers are skillful and exceptionally good in the game of soccer, much the same way that former President Mahama was peerlessly ‘superb’ in presiding over ‘sakawa’ administration in this country’s relatively brief political history. It is why one cannot stop laughing to hear him christen his political nemesis the very name or behaviour he (Mahama) fittingly deserves. Ex-President Mahama’s incompetent leadership is offset by his corrupt presidency, in a wrong way.
Clueless
In all honesty, Mr JD Mahama had no clue regarding what to do with the micro, mezzo and macroeconomic trajectories of this beloved nation of Ghana, except his government’s infamous ‘create, loot, and share’ practices that in many ways led to the popularization of the so-called ‘slay queen’ subculture. Today, there are residues of ‘slay queens’ in this country but not as widespread and in-your-face manner as it was enabled by the ‘sakawa’ regime of Mr Mahama.
More so, many Ghanaians didn’t pay much attention, but at Manhyia Palace to introduce his running to the Asantehene, the NDC flagbearer attempted to pull one of his ‘sakawa’ mind games. Mr Mahama was reported to have lamented to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that Nana Akufo-Addo government had cut off most of the ‘legitimate mining concessions’ and so if the ‘memory loss’ Ghanaians elect him back to power he will quickly restore all those mining activities the current president has put moratorium on them.
As “sakawa kingpin,” the subtle point ex-President Mahama was driving home to Ghanaians was that if the citizens make that mistake and vote for him to become president again, his first line of action is to renegotiate the Nyinahin bauxite concession with the Chinese. At that point, the former president’s younger brother will be the sole winner, once more. This is what bloodline ‘sakawa’ truly means!
The author is US-based writer and a political science lecturer
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