The rollercoaster ride of life never grinds to a halt. The highs and lows of accomplishments and failures, building back one’s life after rude shocks of disappointments almost derails any further effort.
Unarguably, ideas inadvertently defines whether plans and efforts made towards achieving an objective are attained or not.
As such, the seeming rivalry between two parties, intent on ensuring it has the right mix and measure of swooning citizens to buy into an idea are not far from the ‘perks’ of politics, especially in this part of the continent, Africa.
The media space has been set abuzz by the flames of political parties, particularly the two major parties – NPP and NDC, working round the clock to set various mediums of channels abuzz and awash by publicly flailing each other, punching holes in ideas and policies, projecting one another as incompetent to say the least – all in an effort to win public appeal and applause.
However, the mainstay in a political setting, one which ‘undefeatably’ appeals to both the conscience and discernment of citizens has to do with what political parties have to offer which will make their lives better.
Bearing out the perfect pitch to sway voters to think in a certain way and even kowtow to one’s rhythm is a different form of persuasion which requires an equal form of reaction to effectively implement.
Invariably, the level of research, consultations and piloting testing which goes on behind closed doors to construct that perfect idea for electorates to buy into makes it tougher to accept when there are hints of plagiarism of such ideas and policies being peddled by no less than a rival an opposition party can’t wait to see the loss of an incumbent.
In the lead up to the 2024 elections, the two major political parties in the country – NPP and NDC have both offered snippets of what the new government under their administration will largely focus on, Blue Economy and 24-hour economy respectively.
Now, the policy which definitely seems to be striking the right chord with the people is under threat of being a hostage. Nonetheless, the conceiver fails to allow its brainchild be kidnapped on the claims of ‘ignorance’.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of attempting to plagiarize its flagbearer, John Mahama’s, 24-hour economy’ policy.
Mr. Mahama has over the months, positioned the 24-hour economy as a pivotal part of his campaign for the 2024 presidential election, advocating for its potential to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
That notwithstanding, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, while presenting the 2024 budget in parliament on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, claimed the policy was already being implemented.
As a rebuttal, the NDC National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, maintained that no “desperate attempt” by the Vice President, Dr Bawumia and the NPP who are “bereft of ideas” to steal the policy will work.
He noted that the NDC has “seen the cheap attempt they made in the 2024 budget to steal this project and to create an impression that they are already doing it”.
“They (government) are not doing what they spoke about or what John Mahama is proposing to do. They should be original and come up with policies for Ghanaians to know that they take us seriously. They should stop this attempt to steal policies they know next to nothing about.”
Sammy Gyamfi
Effective of ideas trialed in government
Reacting to Sammy Gyamfi’s claims, Joe Jackson, Director of Business Operations at Dalex Finance, expressed reservations about Mr. Gyamfi’s stance, revealing that effective implementation hinges on fostering an environment conducive to business growth within a 24-hour economy framework.
On September 8th, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addressed his nation with a speech announcing a new
campaign entitled “Change Begins with Me”. The aim of the campaign is to attack “dishonesty, indolence, unbridled corruption and widespread impunity” in the country.
Unfortunately, the speech got the campaign off to a rocky start as it was revealed that the speech President Buhari gave was plagiarized, at least in part, from Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech.
Bringing it home, in 2017 the office of President Akufo-Addo issued an apology after he was accused of lifting passages from speeches by Bill Clinton and George W Bush during his inaugural address to the nation.
This proves that high profile plagiarism scandals are a fact of life all over the world and are usually a sign that the country is engaged in fundamental issues.
While some may argue on the lines of oversight, or difference in ideology but similarities in wording, policies in its very nature depends on its effective implementation.
It is not wholly dependent on who sells it better but who gets down to work on it and ensure that it is achieved and effected appropriately for economic development and progress.
Fact-checking the plagiarism allegation, economist, Prof Lord Mensah, prior to the claims, revealed that some of security services such as the police and some institutions are operating 24 hours, although the “off-peak hours seem to be like a burden on employees”.
So, to avoid this and further entrench the 24-hour economy, he expressed the need for re-conscientization if government is able to align policies by engaging the private sector because some private sectors are able to work 24 hours.
Now that the die has been tossed, the difference will be seen as to who really is the originator of the idea, and who was also just trying to fleece off the genuine idea of a hardworking opposition when it comes to the implementation of it, if either wins power.
READ ALSO: Chamber Of Agribusiness Lauds Government’s GHC1billion Economic Enclave Projects
