My Tamale Diary
The National Democratic Congress launched its campaign in Tamale last weekend. The feeling was eclectic and simply electric! As I usually do in towns I don’t often visit, I did a lot of shopping – not for clothing, but for foodstuff.
On one of those many rounds to the central market, I visited the project site that took care of me while I was at the university – the 161KV GRIDCo substation in Choggu.
As a young girl who started out in life immediately after secondary school, this project was an eye-opener to a world completely unknown to me. At the time, I hadn’t the slightest idea what that work entailed, but I embraced it wholly, knowing very well that I had the right mentor on the journey. I would come to understand that a “substation” is the structure that carries electricity from power producers, such as Akosombo and Asogli, and steps down the voltage so that ECG can distribute it to our houses and offices. I found this phenomenon completely fascinating!
Not that I could perform any major function on that project site, but my simple task was to mark attendance while complying with health and safety rules. Most days, you would find me wearing my safety boots and helmet. Other days, you would find me on the other end of the measuring tape so that an engineer could record the accurate length or width. Over time, I could measure correctly, convert to meters, do basic calculations, read the theodolite, and understand terms related to construction and engineering. These may seem insignificant, but I was an arts student and didn’t concern myself with those subjects while in school.
When this project was nearing completion, I would come to understand that there were three others of a similar nature in Sunyani and Bawku, all of which would be executed by the company I worked for. Imagine my joy! As someone who had a front-row seat to the transformational agenda by H.E. John Dramani Mahama to solve the power crisis in Ghana, I shudder to think that anyone would associate “Dumsor” with him. That construction company would go on to execute power projects across the country in a concerted effort to end “Dumsor” permanently. This was JM’s vision and plan.
As fate would have it, he lost the 2016 elections. However, in the period of eight years, his work as President has distinctly set him apart. Many even liken him to the proverbial cornerstone! I have seen the works of a man who has Ghana at heart, and I must say, it is marvelous in my sight. So, my friends, I invite you to research the other sectors of governance between 2012 and 2016. Be it education, health, economy, etc., juxtapose your findings with what we’ve had in the last eight years and tell me who has the superior record.
I have no iota of doubt that J.E. John Dramani Mahama stands tall. Come December 7th, vote for a man who backs his vision with action, an honest man, and an all-around visionary.
Mahama for President 2024.
By Irene Akosua Mensah.
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