WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Not long ago, Ghana once again galvanized its sixth successful elections to elect a president and parliamentary candidates into the national august house to man the affairs of the state in the coming four years.

The just ended December polls did saw President elect John Dramani Mahama on the ticket of the ruling government, National Democratic Congress (NDC) when he pulled a victory over fierce contender Nana Akuffo Addo , flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NDC) to become the fourth John to manage the country.

It seems the name “John” keeps ringing in the minds of the rank and file of the country on the political terrain as far as presidency in this country is concerned.

For instance former President  Jerry John Rawlings served the nation for 21 years right from the PNDC era now the National Democratic Congress (NDC) until 2000 where another  ex-president John Agyekum Kufour ‘s party the New Patriotic Party (NPP) took over the mantle.

Ex-president Kufour served two terms after which the late president Prof. John Evans Atta Mills succeeded him in 2008 after the general elections on the ticket of the NDC.

The traditional of “Johns” did not end there even when the sudden and untimely demise of the late president John Evans Mills shook the nation by a storm. His sudden departure into another world paved way for his Vice-President John Dramani Mahama to step into his fathers shoes.

Interestingly the 2012 general elections has yet again produced another John in person of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama upgraded from a caretaker to a complete full president for his first term hence to be sworn in on 7^th January,2013. He won the 2012 polls after tight contest from NPP flag bearer Nana Akuffo Addo.

John in the bible was used as an apostle of God, a disciple of Jesus Christ and a diviner to foretell about the future in the book of Revelations all in the New Testament. Religiously the name John means "God is gracious or Gracious gift". No wonder all the presidents have been gift to the country.

Has this phenomenon been a per-requisite for the presidency?

Of course not, rather it is a moment Ghana must cope with as the years go by. 

By Ebenezer Zor

www.zorebenezer.blogspot.com