In Ghana, A Possible Madam President

An interesting story which is hardly heard elsewhere in Africa is developing in Ghana. The wife of Ghana's former president, Jerry Rawlings, is mounting a fierce challenge against the current president, John Atta Millis. Now, it is not new for a president to be challenged in Africa or anywhere else in the world. What is new about this story, especially in Africa, is that this challenge is coming from members of the ruling party. John Atta Mills and Jerry Rawling's wife belong to the ruling party. Atta Mills is being challenged because of a dislike of his leadership style. One can say that presidents of ruling parties have been challenged by members of the ruling parties in countries such as South Africa and Nigeria; however, it has hardly happened in most African countries. In fact, in most African countries, the runling party often gives complete support to its president and the president is seen as someone who can do no wrong. In fact, any member of the ruling party who calls the president's ruling style into question is seen as a covert supporter of the opposition. Thus, members of the ruling party hardly challenge the president in countries such as Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Chad, Benin, Uganda, Ethiopia, etc. Members of the ruling parties in these countries are only allowed to sing the praises of their leader. Ghana may be a good example to show that not everyone in a ruling party should automatically endorse the president of that party. That is an example that many other African countries would do well to emulate. It encourages dialogue both within and among parties. It is good for democracy. If Mrs. Rawlings succeeds in this challenge, she may one day be called "Madam President."