By Francis Ameyibor
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 February 2002 - Political analysts and commentators have read varied meanings into President John Agyekum Kufuor's nomination of Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bimbilla, as Ghana's candidate for ECOWAS Executive Secretary.
Some described it as a fulfilment of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) government's "all inclusive policy" and others saw it as a ploy to wrest the seat from the NDC. The most outlandish deduction was that the NPP did not have a capable candidate within its ranks for the post, hence the choice of Dr Chambas. Interestingly, both sides of the political divide agree that Dr Chambas - a political think tank - is someone capable of lifting the sub-region to greater heights.
Another school of thought claimed that the choice of "Chambo", as he is popularly known, was imposed on the Ghanaian government by "Big Brother Nigeria" in horse-trading. Clearly, all these belong to history. President Kufuor pushed very hard and got Chambo, the astute and affable politician, elected.
Dr Chambas on Thursday bade farewell to his colleagues in Parliament, paving the way for "The Battle of Bimbilla". This, however, should not remind us of the "Battle of Welensi" which took place in the same area, so the security agencies could afford to sleep, even fall into a slumber.
The outcome of the by-election coming after a year of NPP administration could be the political barometer to gauge how much impact it had made. The political pundits have predicted real power play between the NDC and NPP in Dr Chambas' backyard in southeastern Northern Region.
The Bimbilla constituency has lessons to be learnt - it is a win - lost- win seat. Dr Chambas won the seat in 1992 on the NDC ticket in 1992, lost to Mr George Dagmanyi Mpambi of the Peoples' National Convention(PNC) in 1996 and regained it in 2000.
The NPP had not been in sight at Bimbilla until the 2000 elections when its candidate Mr Mohammed A Wumbei polled 9,117 (30.01 per cent) of the votes cast to place second to Dr Chambas, who had 18,611 votes (61.25 per cent).
These figures put the NPP in a serious handicap. But who can tell in this part of the world. Ghanaians are known for their penchant for winning and a "right about turn" in these respects would be normal.
If one cast one's mind back to the school days, one would recollect that anytime the teacher asked that hands should be put up for a certain decision, immediately one did that one would turn round to see if many others had their hands up. If one saw that many hands stayed down one would quickly put down one's hand. This is Ghana for you.
No doubt couple with this is the advantage of incumbency. Talk of the President's Special Initiatives for the empowerment of women, the economic gains over the short period and above all the honour done to a son of the soil.
INFIGHTING
It appears the NDC is still drowsy after its shock defeat at the polls. The "Against People" are saying it had lost its bearings and characterised by in fighting - a situation that led to the sudden postponement of its National Delegates' Congress from last December to April.
Indeed, it would be interesting to see how the NDC can put behind it emerging differences and work together to maintain the seat.
ETHNICITY
The campaign rhetoric should be devoid of ethnicity. The Nanumba /Konkomba factor should be down played for obvious reasons. The role of the chiefs should be minimal.
This is important because although they are not expected to take active part in party politics, it is an undeniable fact that behind the scenes, being the power brokers that they are, they will make an impact and the parties might be tempted to use them.
Ethnicity no doubt would be on the agenda of party officials in the selection of a candidate due to the history of the constituency. The Bimbilla constituency is under the Nanumba Traditional Authority, the majority ethnic group, with the Konkomba and others forming the minority.
How wonderful it would be if the two parties chose their candidates from the same ethnic group. The by-election would be the first electoral test of the NPP's new executives headed by Mr Harona Esseku.
Electoral information trickling in from the constituency indicates that NPP has started frantic underground work towards capturing the seat while the other parties are gradually gearing up for battle.
The GCPP's General Secretary, John Amekah has indicated the party's intention to contest the Bimbilla seat. "The GCPP is not taking things for granted and has, since the election of Dr Chambas as ECOWAS Executive Secretary, we have been working to ensure that the party overwhelms other parties contesting the by-election."
Mr Amekah said the country has warmly embraced the party's policy of domestication and that stood them in better stead to win the seat. The Nkrumaist parties are yet to declare their intention and it would be noteworthy whether they would present a single candidate in fulfilment of the objectives of their unity talks.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION’S READINESS
The EC says it is ready to conduct the by-election once the seat was declared vacant. An official source told GNA that the Commission had started mobilisation of logistics and personnel needed for the vote.
The media would once again have a crucial role to play to make the bye-election smooth, peaceful and orderly, as nothing should be done to undermine the future of democracy in the country.
CODE OF CONDUCT
In view of the sensitivity and attraction of the by-election, it is necessary to draw the attention of all political parties to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties adopted on May 18, 2000.
The code says all political parties have the right and freedom to put forward their views to the electorate without hindrance. All parties must publicly condemn any form of political violence or intimidation, irrespective of who originates it. Accordingly no political party should indulge in violent activity or intimidation of any kind, as a way of demonstrating its strength or supremacy.
The parties are also expected at all times to avoid defamatory, derogatory and insulting attacks on rival parties or individual personalities through any form of communication, verbal or written.
During campaigning, political parties or individuals are to avoid the use of inflammatory language, actions, images or manifestations that incite violence, hatred, contempt or intimidation against another party or candidate or any other group of persons on grounds of ethnicity or gender or for any other reason. An interesting "Battle of Bimbilla" awaits Ghanaians and all parties should make it a clean one.
GRi..2002/
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