Undeniably, the founder and flagbearer of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor appears to know little about the theories of politics; her choice of running mate is an epitome; some statements she makes on national media also confirms her limited knowledge in theories of politics. This has made her a national political ridicule.
To a large extent, the Akua Donkor brand invokes inspiration in the underprivileged in society. From a humble background as a farmer to a national figure who is even recognized on Wikipedia is something she should be commended for.
To the market woman at Market Circle in Takoradi or Kotokroaba Market in Cape Coast whose political ambition is only limited to shouting ‘Ey3 zu 3y3 za,’ ‘Eshie rado rado,’ or ‘Pre papa preko,’ Akua Donkor provokes the audacity of hope to these many women who have rich ‘non-academic’ ideas of how a country should be governed.
Contemporary politicians are often hailed with their BA, MBA, B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD titles so for someone like Akua Donkor who does not even have a reference from any tertiary school to think of becoming a president of a state with literacy rate of 76.6% (adult literacy rate, population 15+ years; both male and female – UNESCO report August 2015) is daring.
Undeniably, her rhetoric is questionable. How she would even govern Ghana should she miraculously win is amusing but for her to even dream as high as the presidency is something she should be given credit for and should not go unnoticed.
To me, this is a great and commendable step in breaking away from the ‘little dreams’ of the typical Ekutuase school girl whose only dream is limited to becoming ‘somebody’ in the village and could not dream outside her environs because instinctively, that is too big a dream for her. Admittedly, there are small starts to great things in life but please be truthful, not every uneducated person has the exemplary heroism to dream of the presidency.
To many, Akua Donkor’s political ambition is work in futility which in a way I agree but my concentration is on the hope that she gives to many uneducated; the inspiration to the little cocoa ‘ase’ (cocoa village) child who can also believe that Ghana has a place for him/her too is admirable.
She (Akua Donkor) has boldly said that, if it were not for her, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom’s Progressive People’s Party (PPP) which she campaigned for would have brutally suffered. Though funny but it cannot be denied that at least she has people who are ardent followers of her.
‘Di3n nono,’ let’s not just laugh at her ideas, utterances and ambition, let us also see the inspirational side of the indefatigable Akua Donkor.
Author: Nana Kwesi Coomson (www.233times.net) @nkcoomson on Twitter