7 reasons 2016 was not such a bad year for Ghana

While Brexit, Trump, Hurricane Matthew, South Sudan and the many earthquakes gloomed the world news headlines, the Montie 3 saga, the Kintampo accident and the Trade Fair gas explosion dimmed the spirit of Ghanaians.

However, 2016 would also go down as a not-so-bad year for Ghana and here is why.

Electricity stabilised

Before 2016, the biggest problem Ghanaians had was the inadequate supply of electricity to their homes and businesses. Many businesses were crippled and had to either close shop or lay workers off. However, in 2016, with a hugely contested election due, the government finally got its act together. While dumsor (local expression for the power outages) may not be entirely over, even the fiercest of critics would have to admit, a lot has been done since the beginning of the year to keep the light on.

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Peaceful Elections

This was also the year that once again Ghanaians proved to the entire world why the accolade ‘beacon of democracy’ was not just talk. Ghanaians peacefully went to the polls and voted out (in a landslide) the governing party in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. Defeat was conceded graciously and the transition to the next administration has already started. Same cannot be said for our West African neighbours The Gambia.

Samira Bawumia and Charlotte Osei

The 2016 general elections also came along with it some political risers. Arguably, the star of the elections, Samira Bawumia (the wife of the vice-president elect MahamuduBawumia) was instrumental in the New Patriotic Party’s emphatic victory in the December polls. With a well-improved articulation and strongly worded political jabs at the government, she managed to win so many hearts and minds for the NPP.

Charlotte Osei, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, also supervised the most efficient vote this country has witnessed. Before election day, the Commission had been faced with a barrage of criticism – first, on cleaning up the voters’ register and then the decision to disqualify presidential aspirants who forged signatures. However, critics were silenced on December 7, when polls opened with very few hitches to the process. Mrs Osei bravely resisted calls for her to declare the results of the presidential election early and only did so after the Commission had independently certified the results.

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David Adjaye

Architect David Adjaye, the son of a Ghanaian diplomat, also made Ghanaians proud on the world stage with his design of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum celebrates the achievements of African Americans in the United States; many of whom are descendants of slaves brought from what is now Ghana. It opened to the public in September 2016 in a ceremony led by President Barack Obama and attended by thousands.

Other Black Stars

Apart from Adjaye, many other Ghanaians shone on the world stage. They include child star Abraham Attah, for his award-winning role in the film Beast of No Nation, whizz-kid AfuaAnsah for her stunning performance at the Spelling Bee; filmmaker Amma Asante for directing the film A United Kingdom (which stars David Oyelowo) and (another) Amma Asante (born in Kumasi) for breaking the gender and racial ceiling of Dutch politics to become a member of the lower house of parliament.

Sports

While Ghana may not have won anything major in 2016, the year was certainly a good one. The country represented at the Rio Olympics with a contingent whose greatness is destined for the future. Team Ghana for the first time ever had two swimmers at the Games; 14-year-old Kaya Forson and Abeiku Jackson, 16. There was also an unlikely member of the contingent as SzandraSzogedi, a naturalised Ghanaian of Hungarian origin, became the first woman to represent Ghana in judo at the Olympics.

The Black Queens also braced all odds to win bronze at the Africa Women’s Championship in Cameroon while the Black Maidens also made the quarterfinals of the FIFA U17 World Cup.

Viral photos and videos

Even if 2016 was a bad year like some say it was, the internet made sure there was some light in all the doom and gloom. First there was the engagement photo of MznakkiTetteh and KojoAmoah which made us believe in the beauty of love all over again. Then a photo of Jake Amo transfixed on a drawing broke the internet worldwide. And of course, there was the award-winning viral video of Rashida, the black beauty, which even the moral police would admit ensured that Ghanaians ended the year on an entertaining note. We also can’t forget how Onaapo, the campaign song for President Mahama, metamorphosed into a gospel and wedding song.