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Ghana: Oko's Choice
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Accra Mail (Accra)
EDITORIAL
11 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
It is unusual for a newspaper to devote its editorial columns to one of its own - its cartoonist. Today we are doing precisely that!
Last year when Sammy Oko walked into our offices with examples of his work to offer his services, we were struck by the originality, humour and seriousness of his renditions. We immediately invited him to come on board. We have not regretted it. Cartoonists have a way of holding back the mirror to society which those of us with words are unable to. A squiggle here, a line there and they bring out what hundred words may not.
We do not instruct Sammy on what images to use. He has carte blanche to come up with what is current, what is of interest to him and moreover what he feels is the undercurrent of what we all see on the surface. In other words, he is free to reflect the realities of his society.
Today's cartoon, we have elevated into our editorial column because it catches the essence of a very important issue confronting the polity: the NDC's new image. This cartoon, more than any words - our own editorializing included, the NDC's own public show of newness included, the NPP's "initial response" included and other comments - has brought out our darkest fears and mistrust of an individual, who more than any other in our history has given us so much cause for fear, hate, loathing and social mistrust.
Jerry John Rawlings may have his supporters - and he has many, but he still remains the man who used terror and force to keep us subdued for years and later abused the system to elevate him to the Ghanaian presidency. It is an image that would be very difficult to erase from our collective consciousness. Can the NDC exorcise the memory of that bogey in the party's bid to reinvent itself? It is a historic task which the magnifying glass of history would keep a constant watch on
PS
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Sammy Oko's incisive vision has often showed up the contradictions and clumsiness of the NPP too and would no doubt be bringing us more as this election year gathers momentum.
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