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Americans will vote on November 3, 2020 to determine who runs their country for the next four years. In Ghana we will also go to the polls on the 7th December 2020 to also decide who will rule our country for the next four years. However, there is a striking and very interesting similarity between the political dynamics of Ghana, Nigeria and the United States of America.
The political similarity between the three countries began in 2008. Then Senator Obama in 2008 campaigned for his presidential candidacy with a clear message of change. In Ghana, Professor Mills, who was the NDC flag-bearer in 2008, also campaigned vigorously with a clear message of bringing change to Ghana’s socio-economic narrative. According to fate, Obama won the election and took office on January 20, 2009. In Ghana, Professor Mills also won the election and took office on 7th January 2009. The most interesting thing about the rise of Professor Mills and Barack Obama to the office of president of their respective countries is their background. Before entering politics, Professor Mills taught at the University of Ghana. He was a professor of law at the University of Ghana School of Law. Surprisingly, President Barack Obama also read law at Harvard University and also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. During President Obama’s visit to Ghana in 2009, he commented on the legal background that both he and President Mills have.
In Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, a Nigerian politician took office as President of the Republic of Nigeria on 29th May 2007. He spent the last part of his term seeking medical care abroad for undisclosed health problems. In Ghana, President Mills also faced health problems that made it imperative for him to seek medical care abroad. The 5th In May 2010, President Yar’Adua of Nigeria succumbed to his illness and died at the Aso Rock government headquarters. On May 6, 2010, Goodluck Jonathan, then Vice President of Yar’Adua, assumed the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Obama commented on Yar’Adua’s death, saying: “He was committed to creating lasting peace and prosperity within Nigeria’s borders, and continuing that work will be an important part of honoring his legacy.” In Ghana, President John Evans Atta Mills also had serious health problems. 24thth In July 2012, President Mills of Ghana passed away at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra. On the same day, John Dramani Mahama, then vice president of Mills, took over as president of Ghana. President Barrack Obama commented on the death of President Mills, saying: “Mills is a strong advocate for human rights and fair treatment for all Ghanaians, and works tirelessly to improve the lives of Ghanaians; It helped promote economic growth in Ghana amid challenging global circumstances and strengthened Ghana’s strong democratic tradition. ”
Both President Goodluck Johnathan and President Mahama completed the terms of the deceased presidents of their respective countries. Goodluck Johnathan then ran for president after the late President Yar’Adua’s term ended and won. He took office on 29th May 2011. In Ghana, John Dramani Mahama also ended the term of the late President Atta Mills, ran for president and won. He was sworn in on 7th January 2013. The terms of President Goodluck Johnathan of Nigeria and President John Dramani Mahama were plagued with many controversies, especially corruption. That made the citizens of their countries advocate for change. In the United States, people were also fed up with the political establishment and clamoring for change. After Obama finished his second term, people wanted to see something different. Three variables emerged to meet the needs of people in the United States, Ghana, and Nigeria. The three variables are TRUMP, BUHARI, and NANA ADDO. These three politicians share similar attributes which are old age, experience and the desire to change the status quo of their respective countries.
Muhammadu Buhari raced against Goodluck Johnathan, the then President of Nigeria, and was the winner. Buhari took office on May 29, 2015. In Ghana, NANA ADDO also took on then-President John Dramani Mahama and was the winner. NANA ADDO took office on the 7thth January 2017. In the United States of America, Donald Trump faced the former Secretary of State who is also the former First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was the winner. Donald Trump took office on 20th January 2017. Buhari ran for a second term and was retained as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His second term began on 29th May 2019. President Nana Addo of Ghana and President Donald Trump of the United States of America also seek to be retained as presidents of their respective countries. Ghana’s President Nana Addo has a formidable opponent who happens to be Ghana’s immediate past President John Dramani Mahama. In the US, President Trump is also facing a formidable opponent, Joe Biden, who happens to be the immediate former Vice President of the United States of America. Based on the historical political similarity that exists between Ghana, Nigeria and the United States of America, there is a high plausibility that Nana Addo and Donald Trump could end up consolidating their power. However, this analysis is not based on foolproof comparative assumptions due to the possibility that political opponents of both Nana Addo and Donald Trump could capitalize on the growing discouragement among their citizens.
