the debate

so it came to past...

four out of the 8 presidential candidates took questions and gave answers under some guise called presidential debate...i'm not sure really! it wasn't a debate enough! it was more of a question and answer session!

my view:

it was generally a boring encounter...apart from Dr. Nduom who made some show of it...>>show boy Dr. Nduom<< >>Mr. Nana Akuffo Addo was too eager to defend Kuffour's past 8yr record while spewing a lot of words with little substance...some think he 'talks' English with a nice drawl (slangs?). For me his only bright moment was when he referred to the bill that was passed by parliament yesterday! and he also had some figures however true or false to show he's on top of issues...

But in trying to hard to defend the Kuffour's administration this man dares to tell us that food prices have been on the decrease??? is this man in this country? is he intouch? and he was misleading...asking whether the construction of the Bui Dam was in the handing over notes that NDC passed to NPP...when Prof. Mills suggested that had they followed on the NDC's energy plans the country wouldn't have had the recent energy crisis...and Prof. Mills did not mention Bui dam...he mentioned the west Africa Gas Pipe line, Osagyefo Badge... and for sure it was during the energy crisis that the Bui Dam that was started by Kwame Nkrumah was revisited! So Nana can't mislead folks like me...No! He Can't!

Nana either did not understand Prof. Mills indication that the manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP was zero or that he just chose again to mislead by putting out in folly-bravado figures from his stomach...what's it that said about mangoes and apples?...which figure is even fact-checked to be in the negative...meaning that Prof. Mills was even charitable or that he too was not sure of the figures!

Then when Prof Mills suggested that let nobody think that it is because of their good needs that Ghana has found oil, Nana Addo, came saying well, it's surely luck...LUCK??? is that we should reduce our leadership to? (to suggest that the NPP has some good omen following their rot i guess...No wonder Andrew Awuni claims that Kuffour is full of grace....and that's why Ghana found oil...how so cheap!) ...this kind of mentality is sickening pal! yet this is a man who claims he believes in Ghana...luck?

I have said constantly, that if I were this man, I would flee from Kuffours record because it's nothing to write home about...even McCain is fleeing from Bush...clear and simple!

>>Prof. Atta Mills was for me did not add style to his delivery...and i could see through the radio...he was straight...charisma??? but that's trivial...he put out some substance and that's more important...but he did not take on Nana Addo well enough...I'm sure I would have done a better job... I would never allow that guy (that one) to runaway with any false impressions...never...I would have painted the picture and put it in his face well and square and he would dare!

but it was Prof. who had the opportunity...and I expected him to have hit hard on the issue of security by at least pointing out that the administration of which Akuffo Addo was part could not deal with cocaine problem by citing for example that the IGP does not deserve to be in office after having loads of cocaine stollen from the store room of his HQ without trace upto date!

Prof. should have 'taught' Akuffo Addo how to differentiate figures by restating the point about the GDP contribution of the manufacturing sector instead of allowing him to run with that false impression of him having corrected Mills.

However, Prof. Atta man for me gave the 'sweetest' closing remark. It was one that told why he wanted to be president- to serve (very profound statement that) and it traced his background as a teacher who learnt well through his own students how not to brag and think himself the best there can ever be but that there are always others who could do better in any given situation. (Clearly a subtle but very strong take on Akuffo Addo who tells us that he is the 'best man for Ghana'). i loved that one! let no one brag at all...else one would be called to show it...

>>Dr. Nduom!! This man has done himself some good and he's the News after the debate...with all his corn tactics (me think corn man he is). But sure he was the show boy from dressing (as I found out later) to presentation style. And he tickled me...yes he did...only at the back of my mind I can't cease for forget that he's a corn man! even though I'd personally choose him over Akuffo Addo any day so far because he makes the point that there must be change (no matter how it narrows to his ambition). I'm only sad that he's the candidate leading the CPP of the great Nkrumah...sad...

but the guy tickled me massive. he brought his points home more easily than all the other contestants though I can't trust him. he was massive and I would laugh 'for' him (not 'at' him, mind) some times. He certainly was the show boy of the night! and i'm happy for him for the fact that at least he's doing well for the CPP because more people take him serious compared to the immediate past leader Agudey. I pray CPP is the future!

>>Dr. Mahama! Four years ago he was the darling debater. But he clearly lost some touch this time round...he could not connect very well with his points...but he was also practical with issues. He did Ok. Left to Me alone, I would make hime the next president for the nation! Yes!

So My ranking:

1st. Dr. Nduom,
2nd Prof. Mills,
3rd Dr. Mahama,
4th (and last) Mr. Akuffo-Addo

Conclusion:
For me pal, the whole point i got from this debate is the re-enforcement of the fact that there must be a change in leadership...Akuffo Addo does not think so and claims that we should stay the course...as if there was even one when the country is really on autho-pilot...what course? but I do and I recommend that you do too!

Let there be change!