When the Lion Feels Ignored: Kufour’s Cry Hits a Nerve — But Should We Be Surprised?
A couple of nights ago, I sat alone at my usual spot in that tiny coffee shop near my house — the one with the wobbly chair nobody wants but I always take anyway. I’d been scrolling through headlines half-heartedly when this one jumped out at me: “I Don’t Understand Why My Own Party Has Sidelined Me In Decision Making - Fmr Prez Kufour Cries Out.”
I swear, I read that twice. It’s not every day you hear a man who once called the shots for an entire nation confess, “I don’t understand.” It stings. And, honestly, it made me think about all those times I’ve felt left out of decisions in my own small life — family WhatsApp groups, office projects, heck, even where to eat lunch sometimes. But when it happens to a man like John Agyekum Kufuor? That’s another level.
Look, I’m not an expert on party politics — I’d rather figure out how to keep my succulents alive — but I do know one thing: power is a funny thing. One day, you’re the kingmaker, the next, you’re the old uncle they invite to events for photo ops and polite applause. And I’m not sure that’s fair. In my opinion, there’s something deeply unsettling about how we discard people once we think they’ve outlived their ‘usefulness’.
Kufour’s frustration reminds me of that classic office scenario — you train the new guy, show him the ropes, pour years of your life into the company, and then boom! Suddenly you’re not in the room when the big decisions are made. Happens everywhere. But when it happens at the level of national politics, you can’t help but wonder: what do we lose when we silence experience?
I may be wrong, but I think our politics is obsessed with youth and ‘fresh energy’ these days. Which is fine — we need fresh ideas. But do we have to throw out wisdom while chasing the next big thing? Kufour, for all his flaws (and no leader is perfect), has seen this country through seasons many of us only read about. Doesn’t that count for something?
The part that gets me is the sheer loneliness in that statement: “I don’t understand why my own party…” That word own hits hard. Imagine pouring your soul into building a house, only to find they’ve changed the locks on you.
I’m just here wondering — if the ‘big men’ can feel this invisible, what does it mean for the rest of us? If a lion can roar and not be heard in his own den, is any of us really safe from being sidelined someday?
Maybe next time you see that older colleague or that retired teacher in your neighbourhood, you’ll think twice before you write them off as ‘past their prime’. Who knows what wisdom we silence when we stop listening?
Anyway, these are just my late-night coffee thoughts. Maybe I’m reading too much into it. But what about you? Who do you think we’ve stopped hearing, right under our noses? And when it’s our turn to roar — will anybody listen?