Mahama agrees with Akuffo Addo on voters' register - dialogue time in Ghana

Akuffo Addo-Mahama hand shake

It is now obvious that both John Dramani Mahama and Nana Akuffo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party respectively, have agreed on issues of imperfection regarding the Ghana voters' register. However, debate on how to resolve these imperfections has been a central argument between their respective political parties, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. The NDC suggests a "clean-up" of the register, but NPP suggests a "change" of the register. Mahama may not have publicly communicated his stance on the issue since he is the President and represents all Ghanaians. But for this article, I will ascribe him to the stance of the NDC, his party.

You see, as I have always believed, a debate is usually about who is right, but a dialogue is usually about what is right. These political parties in one way or the other may be arguing on the "who is right" philosophy to win political points. Thus creating only a two-sided argument; to "clean up" or to "change" the voters' register.  Quiet funny, both "clean-up" and "change" begin with the letter "C." which is also the letter that begins "common ground." Can both Mahama and Akuffo Addo have a common ground on the voters' register? Yes, I believe they can, what of you?

Honestly I have no doubt that both Ghanaian political parties and their followers together with other Ghanaians wish the best for our beloved nation called Ghana. That is why we should all (political party members and non-political party members), switching only our Ghanaian label on, and switching off any other label (if any), to create a third face to the argument which is dialogue. This third face does not necessarily mean our previously established positions do not matter, they very much do matter for an effective dialogue. Just that with the dialogue face and a Ghanaian label, we will eschew the "who is right" discussions and uphold the "what is right" discussions. Yes, what is right is a reliable voters' register for a reliable election results in 2016. I believe both Mahama and Akuffo Addo agree to and will do what is right. This is not to say they can or will influence the decision of the Electoral Commission on the voters' register, but surely they both can influence the mindset of many citizens of Ghana. That alone is power, and if not carefully handled can result in unpleasant events going into the famous election campaign season for our national Parliamentary and Presidential elections. 

This is a great time to dialogue, we should begin to have national Presidential Candidates Dialogues in addition to constructive debates on separate occasions. This will send a message to the Ghanaian electorates that Presidential Candidates can be seen publicly together agreeing to real challenges and issues of our beloved nation called Ghana.

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