US HAS SPOKEN;WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

US HAS SPOKEN!WHAT IS THE TREND ANALYSIS, PROPAGANDA-RECYCLED AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GHANA?

Okay, let's say the United States of America (USA) has spoken .The controversial Republican candidate,Donald John Trump has been dully elected the 45th president.He takes over from Barack Hussein Obama's  led Democratic government.

The world they say is a global village, and whatever happens in America (a superpower) of the world impacts Ghana. (You remember the credit crunch in USA and the effects it had on our country).One can easily make mention of foreign policy, access to grant-in-aid,Ghana's relationship with US, security, trade, international protocols and conventions,and the propaganda-recycled as trend analysis and electoral fortunes.

The trends(refined propaganda):Americans have faith in two- party system-the Democrats who ideologically are more to the left and the Republicans who are more to the right.Those in the middle are the independents.The Republicans are liberal(economically left).The Democrats are in favour of governments intervention for the poor and needy.
The Democrats just like the NDC believe in the bottom-up approach(shifting the allocation of wealth from the haves to the have-nots) to development.The Republicans on the other hand believe in the Top-down approach, thus, the trickling down effect to development.

These parties in response to the needs of the people also flirt around these ideologies-the Democrats for instance have since moved from left-center towards the center.These ideological stance mostly reflect the economic and social policies of various governments.

Interesting enough, Ghana and USA have always voted along a particular line since 1992 based on their ideologies.In 1992 for instance,as USA voted for Bill Clinton(a Democrat),Ghana voted Jerry John Rawlings (a social democrat) and founder of NDC. Both candidates were retained in 1996.
In 2000,USA elected George Walker Bush (a Republican) and Ghana voted for John Agyekum Kuffour of NPP (a liberal democrat).Both candidates were retained in 2004.
Fast - forward,in 2008,USA voted for Barack Hussein Obama(a democrat) and Ghana voted for my late beloved prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills of blessed memory of NDC (a social democrat).The historic visit of president Obama to Ghana as his first Africa country after his election just says it all.
Obama was retained in America in 2012.But following the death of prof.Atta Mills, his vice president John Dramani Mahama succeeded him and won the elections of 2012 on the ticket of NDC(Democrats).
In the just ended elections in USA, Donald Trump(a Republican) won against Hillary Clinton(a democrat), and Ghana is yet to decide.
Are we likely to see a change coming or change is happening already?

Let's probe the issues further:
You have been following the debate on social media.The NPP sees the turn of events in America as a hope for a change in Ghana.So I ask:is trend analysis really anything to go by?
But have you realised the trend was truncated somewhat in 2008 following the death of prof. Mills? At least, a candidate has changed.Have you also noticed that there is a "JOHN" in the name of Donald Trump?

Most of the opinion polls in the run - up to the elections in USA predicted victory for Hillary Clinton. Such predictions where overturned.
In Ghana, most of the opinion polls are predicting victory for Akuffo-Addo. If trend analysis is anything to go by,is change coming or change is happening?Are these also trends that could "play out"?Interesting, I guess!
Such trends I think could be propaganda-recycled or turn out to be the realities.You can also be your own judge in such propaganda instances.
The trends may be similar but the conditions and situations in both countries may differ.So discard the "trends propaganda" and concentrate on selling your messages to the people. 

Implications: Donald Trump from his campaign and public auterances seem anti - African .Our leaders must therefore brace themselves for the times ahead.The man has made his point clear:I'm going to hand America back to Americans.He emphasised this in his victory speech:after expressing a desire to rebuild infrastructure, making it "second to none". Trump went on to say, "We will get along with all countries that are willing to get along with us. We must reclaim our country's destiny.

We(Ghana) should anticipate a drastic cut in grant-in-aid from USA,hard-line immigration laws(mass deportation of illegal immigrants-thus,putting an end to "birthright citizenship"),his stance on trade(he has blamed China for the economic woes of USA -Who knows:he might blame Ghana next), his perception on global warming(how does he intend to tackle the canker after describing it as a hoax, and intends cutting funds away from EPA?).What about his racial profiling, especially against Muslims?
These are all issues we should be on a look out for.

The fact is,the man is likely to be tough on third world countries.And we must be prepared to take our destiny into our own hands(after all, Ghana is capable of managing its own affairs).

With barely twenty - seven (27) days to go to the polls in Ghana, one can only cross his/her fingers, pray for peace and accept whatever the outcome of the election might be.
The watchword is "PEACE".
May God bless.
Read more on ananpansah-ab.blogspot.com

By ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School (UGBS)/Radio Presenter
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