Eagle Mentality, Toronto, ON (2026)

04/19/2026

Since the establishment of the Ghanaian military, there has never been a day or time when it has been called into combat against any foreign force, except in the course of its self-waging coups d'états.
While it is a laudable idea to have a military as a nation, it is also necessary for us to evolve this army by leveraging its expertise in road and bridge construction across the nation.

04/10/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- A REFLECTION BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 13

In this chapter, I introduce another Animal Farm character: Mollie, a self-indulgent white mare, to advance my ideas. Mollie could read only her name, unlike Benjamin, who was genuinely literate. She was materialistic and obsessed with sugar and ribbons. She avoided hard work and made endless excuses. Mollie relished the admiration from her human master, Mr. Jones, and refused to abandon her pampered lifestyle serving him. Ultimately, after the revolution, she deserted the farm, unable to withstand its hardships under the pigs' regime, and was later spotted working for another human.

In Ghanaian and African contexts, Mollie directly symbolizes members of the diaspora—both educated and uneducated—who, dissatisfied with living conditions and leadership at home, choose comfort abroad over challenging local difficulties. Our presence in the diaspora mirrors Mollie’s choice to leave the farm, seeking personal benefit over communal struggle. Those back home see our lives through this lens, fueling the desire to follow us and envy.

Orwell’s Mollie, representing the materialistic bourgeoisie who fled Russia post-revolution, parallels our motives as we leave Ghana—not as elites escaping upheaval, but as individuals pursuing comfort and self-interest. Living in developed countries positions us as the new bourgeoisie in the eyes of those at home. Our central reason for leaving remains the pursuit of comfort and wealth, mirroring Mollie’s flight from hardship.

For many in the diaspora, Ghana and Africa represent work and struggle we must avoid, given that development is nearly impossible. Like Mollie, we embrace Western comforts—cars, homes, and luxury—often depending on debt to sustain them, prioritizing personal ease over transformative effort. Back home, many are unaware of a painful truth: Western luxury comes at a cost, often paid for with debt. This mirrors Mollie’s comfortable life, gained through dependence and at a personal price.

Attempts to return home often fail, as the draw of Western luxury proves irresistible—like Mollie’s love for sugar and ribbons. We prioritize material gain, which aligns with Mollie’s mindset. Our mindset mirrors Mollie's: we avoid challenges and choose migration for luxury, rather than confronting the core issue—the African ignorance mindset.

Many at home dream of joining us abroad, seeking luxury, unaware that most people, if not all, in the developed world live inauthentic lives, are heavily reliant on credit, and only fewer than 1% are debt-free. Leaving Ghana, then, is like Mollie fleeing Animal Farm—choosing another master over facing challenges and fighting for real reform at home.

Mollie’s focus on only the letters of her name shows self-centeredness, mirrored in our diaspora's focus on accumulating material things while neglecting the ideas that built the West. Most Ghanaians and Africans abroad, if not all, master only the art of acquiring wealth but fail to understand the ideas and systems behind Western advancement.

We return home with used goods or out-of-fashion commodities as business ventures, not with knowledge or systems that could spark progress at home. Our goal is personal gain, maintaining Western luxury rather than fostering real change.

Mollie ultimately embodies us in the diaspora—the new bourgeoisie of Ghana and Africa —choosing personal luxury over engagement with the challenges of home. That is the purging of the African minds, regardless of status, from ignorance and backwardness.

Emmanuel Mensah

04/09/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- A REFLECTION BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 12

Ignorance is a disease. But a deadlier disease arises when intellectuals and the supposed wise, despite knowing better, remain silent. This silence inflicts more damage than ignorance. Ignorance brings personal misery, but when academia and clergy stay silent, dictators thrive, and failure is rewarded.

In this chapter, I examine intellectuals in schools and the clergy who embody Benjamin, the donkey from Animal Farm.

Benjamin was an intelligent donkey. He could read and understand the commandments, but refused to challenge the corrupt leaders. He was known for thinking that nothing would ever change, no matter who was in charge. He only acted at the last moment.

His attitude cost his friend Boxer his life. Benjamin could read the writing on the van that took Boxer to the slaughterhouse. He chose to speak out only when he drew the other animals’ attention to the danger. His last-minute effort failed. The others’ shouts urging Boxer to escape could not save him, given his age and weakness. Benjamin shows the danger in waiting until it is too late to act.

In Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, Benjamin represents the scholar class and the clergy. Intelligent and aware of the Constitution and people’s struggles, they remain pessimistic—sure that nothing changes, whoever is in power. The clergy, especially, withdraw. They urge members to pray but not to act. Hardships and current events are, to them, signs that the end is near. Each day, they warn members to ignore politics and focus on salvation, declaring Christ’s return is imminent.

Benjamin also represents the scholar class: highly intellectual but pessimistic. As situations worsen, they choose inaction over confrontation. Ghanaian and African intellectuals can read but do not speak out, neither in speech nor in writing. Their pessimism stems from the belief that changing leaders will not improve their lives. They have intellectual knowledge but lack the wisdom to advance. They sit back, watch things get worse, and later claim, “We saw it coming.”

This group acts only when directly threatened. The clergy speak out solely on issues impacting their religion. As long as leaders declare faith and avoid passing conflicting laws, they ignore all else. Their only concern is with laws clashing with their beliefs, evident in religious leaders' recent actions on Ghana's LGBT laws. They'll support any candidate pushing such laws, regardless of competence.

The academic class acts only when salary demands are denied. As with Benjamin’s futile warning to Boxer, their last-minute protests barely yield a positive outcome.
Benjamin also represents those who believe that voting for or against their party will not help Ghana, even though they know their party is failing; they still support and vote for it. They do not care about the consequences of their views, enabling incompetence and injustice.

Benjamin’s indifference shows the danger of waiting until the last minute. He spoke out only when his best friend was taken. His cynicism was a defence that failed to help society.

Indulging in the Benjamite mentality harms your country. The time to act is now. As an intellectual, your knowledge only matters if you use it now to shape the nation. To the clergy, this is not a slur on your belief in Jesus’s return. Yet, remember the word “soon” about Christ’s coming has been in use for over two thousand years. Encourage your members to be active in politics. Politics itself is not corrupt; only the people in it are. Only when the right people enter politics can we make it better for all.

Eagle Emmanuel Mensah
Co-founder- The Eagle Mentality Group

04/08/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- A REFLECTION BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 11

The Bible, in the book of James, emphasizes the duty to recognize and do what is right. St. James asserts that ignoring known right actions constitutes wrongdoing. This principle is central to effective leadership: overlooking what is right fosters authoritarianism. In this chapter, I compare Clover from Animal Farm—whose perspective mirrors the frustrations and constraints of Ghana’s working class—with the essential yet undervalued contributions and challenges of ordinary Ghanaians.

Clover was a kind, caring, and steadfast cart horse recognized for her commitment to the animal community and her leadership. As a maternal figure, she genuinely cared for the other animals, especially Boxer, encouraging them not to overwork. Among all the animals, Clover was one of the few who could read, though her literacy was limited to only two letters. She learned the alphabet after the Rebellion, but she was unable to put letters together to read words or sentences. Due to her limited literacy, she relied on Muriel the goat to read the Seven Commandments for her as the pigs altered them.

In our daily lives, Clover symbolizes the loyal, silent working class—especially women—who support political movements out of duty but lack the influence to hold leaders accountable. Without their commitment, political parties or religions would struggle to survive. Clover thus represents both the power and the limitations of the working class—a theme central to my argument about their importance and the challenges they face.

Just like Clover, the working class, such as market women, farmers, and fishermen, are either outright illiterates or semi-literate individuals who depend on the literate to interpret the system's complexity for them. Muriel the goat embodies party surrogates and semi-educated foot soldiers. Their explanations to the working class only deepen confusion and suspicion, yet they have believed them.

Every working-class person realizes their leaders are often deceptive but accepts their lack of influence, attributing it to the few opportunities to speak out. Yet, they show love for their country by sharing their experiences and mentoring youth. Their limited education, however, reinforces their sense of powerlessness, a key factor in understanding the working class's struggles and limited agency.

This is the 'Clover mentality': like the working class, Clover suspected betrayal of revolutionary ideals but chose loyalty. She recognized the pigs' manipulation yet, limited by literacy and self-doubt, couldn't challenge them—mirroring the working class’s awareness but restricted ability to effect change. This reinforces the central argument that limited empowerment fosters inaction.

In Ghana, Clover represents unschooled workers whose steady labour sustains the country. Like her, they nurture and support everyone, including leaders, yet their loyalty and contributions are frequently overlooked. This reinforces my main argument that the working class is essential but undervalued and under-empowered.

They have observed the recurring cycle of leaders making empty promises, only addressing their roads and living conditions near elections. Disillusioned, they now simply placate those in power.

The working class is aware when leaders act out of self-interest. Still, due to limited education, they remain silent but loyal to their nation. Witnessing leaders from their ranks rise and repeat the same behaviours adds to their frustration. This closely mirrors Clover’s suspicions about the pigs and underlines the main argument about the working class’s awareness, loyalty, and frustration.

Clover, as one of the oldest animals, experienced both hope and betrayal by the pigs. Her story mirrors the journeys of hardworking individuals, from optimism during campaigns to disillusionment after elections. This analogy highlights the working class's recurring emotional cycles and reinforces the central argument.

Clover also symbolizes those who are aware of society’s decline and choose silence, thereby enabling authoritarianism, rewarding and perpetuating failure. Religious communities, for example, often retreat to prayer and indirectly support harmful leadership. This supports my central claim: inaction by the working class enables poor leadership.

Silence is a choice, yet in our political culture, the choice affects your life and that of the entire nation. Simply assess your own living conditions; that alone should guide your decision at elections. Democracy empowers you to speak with your vote. Books and formal education cannot teach you about your circumstances—your experiences do. Your tribal lines and religious affiliations cannot teach you about your current circumstances, but your personal experiences can. The fact that within your religion and tribe, there are others whose lives are better than yours is evidence that your only teacher about your life experience is your personal experiences, but not others.

So, act, and let experience guide your decision. Do not tie yourself to any political party on a religious or tribal basis that disregards your well-being. Only by voting as independent, equal citizens based on actual reality will leaders be held accountable for failure and incompetence.

To close this chapter, I share Plato’s thoughts: “One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” As voters, you do not need to be leaders, but your decisions shape the nation’s direction. Therefore, take an active part in the process, but with wisdom and intelligence.

Eagle Emmanuel Mensah

04/07/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- A REFLECTION BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 10

In this chapter, I will continue to draw parallels between the plight of the Animals in Animal Farm and the experiences of ordinary Ghanaians in our 4th Republic era. The main argument is that, as in Animal Farm, Ghanaians face a system in which leaders prioritize themselves over citizens' needs. My aim is to awaken you, particularly the youth, to rise and demand what is right—not just for yourselves, but for the greater good of Ghana.

Your demand must not be about a haphazard response to the road system across Ghana, but about the introduction of systems, plans and programs that will translate into the establishment of a sustainable road network across the nation, so that every citizen, at every point, can move about freely and safely to do business.

The contrasting living conditions between the animals and their leaders in Chapter Nine of Animal Farm reflect current issues in Ghana and Africa, especially how leaders put their own interests above those of the public. In the novel, while animals starve, the pigs—the leaders—enjoy plenty, justified as necessary for everyone’s good. Cost-cutting is cited, but the pigs’ acquisition of whiskey after Boxer's death raises suspicion. As food becomes scarce, the pigs remain comfortable, widening the gap between leaders and people.

How does this glaring allegorical injustice resonate with you as a Ghanaian citizen living under successive 4th Republic governments?

For context, Animal Farm represents Ghana, citizens are the animals, and leaders and elites are the pigs. Every election cycle is like the revolution that ousted Mr. Jones. The NDC and the NPP take turns as Mr. Jones when each is in power. In the same way, in opposition, either party assumes the role of Napoleon, Snowball, Squealer, and Boxer. The rebellious animals are you, the citizens beating each other and queuing in line to vote to overthrow the unpopular government. Before each election, the opposition party plays the role of Napoleon, seeking to oust the incumbent, Mr. Jones. Every four or eight years, citizens support this change, hoping for real improvement.

The main argument of this analysis is that, under Ghana's 4th Republic, just as in Animal Farm, government policies and projects have repeatedly favoured the ruling elite at the expense of the wider population. Most government initiatives fulfill campaign promises rather than serve the nation's true interests. This pattern directly reflects the core injustice described in Animal Farm—those in power prioritize their own comfort, worsening inequity for the rest.

By contrasting Ghana's first president with leaders of the 4th Republic, I intend to reveal a painful truth: while founding leadership pursued projects for the common good, today’s administrations shamelessly perpetuate inequality—just as depicted in Animal Farm.

Some projects are for the nation; others serve only the elite. Ghana’s first president boldly recognized that electricity fuels development and built the Akosombo hydroelectric plant, which became the backbone of Ghana’s economy and aided neighbouring nations. This vision embodied leadership for true national growth—a vision now largely lacking.

Review projects launched under each 4th Republic government—NDC and NPP. You will see a trend that mirrors the injustices in Animal Farm. Even infrastructure from the colonial and the first administrations has been neglected or abandoned.

The collapse of Ghana’s rail network and the politicization of its roads exemplify this rot. Though built in colonial times, the rail is now lifeless, and roads are mere political bargaining chips.

The road network, vital and affordable, serves all parts of the nation. Logic suggests maintaining and expanding roads nationwide, especially in agricultural, mining, and fishing areas that drive the economy. Yet farmers and workers are left with poor roads while city roads are paved. This is unfair, like Animal Farm.

The road system, crucial to all, decays as politicians focus on elections. Like the pigs’ whiskey during hunger, ordinary needs are ignored as governments build airports for elites. It is baffling that successive governments prioritize airports in areas with few or no good roads. These projects are justified as national benefits, but only the elite can access them—a mirror of Animal Farm's justifications for pigs’ privileges.

In 2002, Ghana joined the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries group, citing a lack of funds for infrastructure. However, the same government built a new seat of government that benefited only the elite, while ordinary people were ignored. Much of Ghana’s road network remains untarred or deteriorates while leaders enjoy modern complexes. Just like Animal Farm.

The splendour of government offices means nothing without genuine service to the people. A nation cannot prosper when its government is more committed to comfort than to duty. An ornamental seat cannot mask governmental inadequacy or distract from its responsibility.

To reinforce the main argument: projects by successive 4th Republic governments do not aim to improve general living conditions, but primarily serve a select elite. Many projects fail to support ordinary people, especially those who provide food and export commodities like gold and timber. City flyovers do not move food, cocoa, or other exports to ports; rural roads do. Beautifying cities does not build value, but rural infrastructure could.

Consider this: Ghana’s exports and food are not produced in Accra, Kumasi, or Tamale; they are produced in rural areas. Neglecting rural roads harms the nation’s economy. Workers keeping the nation running are denied the infrastructure they need, while leaders find funds for vote-winning projects.

In summary, Animal Farm's allegorical injustice mirrors the central argument of this chapter: real progress for Ghana depends on prioritizing infrastructure and welfare for everyday citizens—especially those driving the economy—over projects designed for the elite. Unless these priorities shift, investments will perpetuate the inequalities depicted in Animal Farm rather than address Ghana's real needs.

Eagle Emmanuel Mensah
Co-founder- The Eagle Mentality Group

04/05/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- A REFLECTION BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 9

The main theme in this chapter is that blind or unwavering loyalty, whether in fiction or real life, leads to both personal and national downfall for those who place blind trust in self-interested leaders. Boxer’s fate in Animal Farm closely parallels the experiences of loyal supporters of the two dominant political parties in Ghana and the nation in general. These diehard loyalists, like Boxer, persist in their devotion even when their leaders are flawed or acting in self-interest, often to their own and national detriment.

Boxer symbolizes loyalists in Ghana’s political parties, committed to leaders’ promises despite unequal reward. For decades, leaders have enjoyed luxury, while ordinary members have risked and sacrificed in the hope of change.

This loyalty is further exploited during political campaigns, much as Napoleon wielded Squealer's propaganda against Snowball. In these campaigns, the opposition is relentlessly vilified, and members are cunningly persuaded to support their leaders. For example, in chapter nine of Animal Farm, during an uncontested April election, Napoleon was proclaimed the unanimous winner and the Animal Farm was declared a republic. The pattern in which Napoleon and Squealer give speeches falsely accusing Snowball of allying with the humans echoes tactics used by both political parties during campaigns and after winning elections.

The persistent manipulation of loyalty creates a recurring pattern: once a government loses power, as Snowball did in exile, it becomes the scapegoat for the new administration on issues that won them elections and current arising issues. Outgoing administrations are swiftly blamed for new problems, with party leaders convincing voters that they were unaware of the real economic situation and insisting that recovery will be slow. This process further amplifies the cycle of blame-shifting seen in Animal Farm, directly linking the current narrative with the allegory's lessons.

Despite this recurring pattern, loyal supporters continue to trust their leaders, drawing a direct parallel to Boxer’s unwavering belief in his masters. Yet for those in power, this does not translate into reciprocal care—rather, it serves to secure votes. This scenario echoes Boxer's promise of medical help, though his masters had other intentions, showing again how unwavering support is exploited.

The consequences for blindly loyal followers are invariably grim across both Animal Farm and real-world politics. Such allegiance fosters authoritarian rule, where even minor dissent incurs severe punishment. This mirrors Boxer’s demise and stands as a warning of the hazards of unquestioning fidelity. Blind loyalty also fosters a culture of rewarding failure and incompetence. The mindset of “I cannot see myself voting for this party” is another form of stating Boxer’s slogan. “Napoleon is always right”.

Boxer’s story exemplifies how committed supporters in Ghana’s political parties trust leaders’ promises, though leaders often overlook their true well-being—mirroring Boxer’s own deception. Consequently, as supporters are distracted by hollow promises and trivial incentives, the cycle of exploitation endures. This connects to earlier examples of Boxer and steadfast party loyalists, highlighting the theme of manipulation.

This brings us to the central theme: blind loyalty. Who is a blind loyalist? To further understand the impact of such devotion, consider the following:

If you support a political party for life—not because of its policies or ideology and issues relating to national interest, but due to personal, family, tribal or religious ties—you are exhibiting blind loyalty. Consider: Does loyalty without scrutiny truly serve you or your community, or does it serve only those in power?

As depicted in chapter nine of Animal Farm, despite Boxer's and the other animals' dedication to Napoleon and the pigs, their daily rations steadily declined while the pigs' portions grew. When the animals objected, they were persuaded that they were better off than they had been under Mr. Jones, their former master. The leadership rationalized this inequity by claiming the pigs required extra nutrition to serve the farm. This manipulation epitomizes the exploitation of loyalty mentioned earlier.

Amidst this plight of the animals, four sows gave birth to thirty-one piglets for Napoleon. Despite the animals being denied adequate food, Napoleon ordered the construction of a school solely for the piglets' education. Napoleon then introduced the Spontaneous Demonstrations, during which the animals marched around the farm and listened to speeches that lauded and exulted the glory and achievements of the Animal Farm.

This scenario mirrors actions by Ghanaian politicians in the two dominant parties, as discussed above. As necessities slowly erode from the lives of ordinary citizens, party leaders in government often resort to organizing events such as Town Halls to showcase capital-intensive projects in cities and selected parts of the nation as their achievements. They present economic statistics that never reflect the plight of citizens. Much like the animals marching around the farm, party members who struggle to afford four square meals are given free party dresses and paraphernalia to participate in staged dances and chants.

Given these parallels, if you are a diehard loyalist, sit back and reflect as you read this piece—you may see yourself in the place of the animals on Animal Farm. Like Boxer, your fate may mirror his. While leaders' promises may have conditioned your thinking for years, the reality is that your blind loyalty only harms you and Ghana. You are more or less in a van bound for the allegorical slaughterhouse, believing you are being treated fairly.

Reflect on Boxer’s plight and compare it to your own. Every four years, supporters like you are called to dance and chant with hopes of change, only to realize, post-election, little has improved.

Furthermore, it is only during election seasons that political parties bus supporters to rallies, offer handouts, and then vanish until the next cycle. This mirrors Boxer’s final journey to the slaughterhouse, underscoring the disregard for loyal followers’ well-being and reinforcing the culture of exploitation.

Given this ongoing pattern, the critical question to ask yourself, dear diehard loyalist, is what do you truly need? Is it the winning party’s thank-you tour, or the actual fulfillment of your needs? Remember, genuine appreciation from a true leader or governing party comes only in the form of policies and programs that offer real relief from your plight.

When a political party wins an election and undertakes a tour of appreciation, it often signals two broader truths about the relationship between leaders and their loyal supporters.

1. They realize they are undeserving, yet you naively hand them victory.
2. Appreciation events and handouts are designed to soothe your doubts and relieve the leaders of the guilt of the falsehood, failures, and incompleteness. Your participation in such events simply sets them free from their guilt. As a matter of fact, it is a form of therapy that you are offering them for free.

But do not let such gestures cloud your judgment. Instead of accepting empty words, insist on real accountability, and let your choices reflect your true interests and those of the nation, not those of those in power.

Ultimately, the main truth is that true appreciation and thanks for electoral support should be demonstrated only by implementing ideas and programs that directly enhance citizens' lives. Genuine loyalty should be given only when leaders address real issues, not blindly allow them to thrive on tribal, religious, or self-serving interests.

Eagle Emmanuel Mensah
Co-founder- The Eagle Mentality Group

04/04/2026

GHANA THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE ANIMAL FARM- REFLECTIONS BY EMMANUEL MENSAH # 8

Napoleon, as a character in the Animal Farm storyline, can be likened to the dominance of the NPP and the NDC in Ghana’s political landscape. Jerry Rawlings played the roles of Old Major and Napoleon as the drama progressed. After his exit from the political landscape, the character Napoleon metamorphosed into a powerful two-headed beast: NDC and NPP.

As in the case of the fictional Old Major, he had a good life but was deeply connected with the plight of the animals in the hands of their human master. Jerry Rawlings, a young Air Force military officer, though better than the average civilian in terms of living conditions at that time, envisioned a life better than the current one, which was dominated by corruption and elite exploitation. Through his charismatic, vociferous rants, he galvanized his fellow young officers and sparked the June 4th uprising. After the June 4th uprising, power was later handed over to an elected leader, Dr. Hilla Liman.

On the 31st December 1981, Dr. Liman and his government, representing the human master as in Animal Farm, were overthrown. At this point, Rawlings as Old Major died, and Rawlings as Napoleon emerged as the leader of the 31st December Revolution in 1981, with others playing the roles of Snowball, Squealer, Boxer and Clover, etc. Just like Napoleon in Animal Farm, most of the comrades synonymous with Snowball in the June 4th uprising either went into exile voluntarily or were chased into it.

Rawlings’ leadership, like Napoleon’s, shaped Ghana for over a decade with calls for "integrity," "probity," and "accountability." The patriotic language changed both the national ethos and public expectations, thereby fostering hope and optimism. Chants such as “JJ” and lyrics such as the famous revolutionary anthem. “We no go sit down let them cheat us every day, " became the vibrations over the airwaves.

However, as the revolution gradually metamorphosed into an administration, the ideals and values underlying it began to erode, mirroring the way revolutionary ideals in Animal Farm lost coherence as power became entrenched.

The transformation of PNDC members into a privileged elite mirrors Animal Farm’s pigs evolving into the oppressors. Changing revolutionary slogans and adopting an elitist lifestyle reflect the pigs’ betrayal of original ideals, demonstrating the allegory of revolutionary leaders becoming indistinguishable from those they replaced.

The economic hardship and other factors then drove Rawlings, the Napoleon, and his comrades to meet with the IMF and the World Bank, synonymous with Napoleon’s alliance with Pilkington and the other farmers. A development that mirrors the allegorical Napoleon in Animal Farm.

Just as the allegorical Napoleon, upon meeting Pilkington of Foxwood Farms and other farmers protesting the animals' plight, entered into an agreement to make a series of changes, notably renaming the farm. So was Napoleon, in the person of Rawlings, forced to make concessions to Pilkington, who represented the IMF and the World Bank. Key demands from Pilkinton and the other farmers, representing the IMF and the World Bank, were a change from military rule to civilian rule and the introduction of austerity measures, regardless of how detrimental they were to the people and to Ghana. Austerity measures were introduced, and eventually, Rawlings, just like Napoleon, changed the name of the government by forming a political party, the NDC. The situation also gave rise to another party called the NPP.

This development brought about a drastic change in the country, as the revolutionaries devoted themselves to implementing the demands of Pilkington (the IMF and the World Bank). With these developments, the revolutionaries became almost identical to the civilian elites against whom the revolution was waged. They had gradually become the elite of the day. The ideas of the PNDC government were no longer the ideas of the revolution but those of the IMF and the World Bank. This transformation was like the pigs' transformation in Animal Farm, which made it impossible for the other animals to recognize them through their windows.

After two terms, Jerry Rawlings exited as Ghana’s first president of the Fourth Republic. Napoleon’s transformation from an individual to two dominant parties highlights the power struggle between the NPP and NDC, echoing the ongoing Animal Farm battle for dominance, with all other parties suppressed.

The dominance of the two political parties in Ghana’s politics parallels Napoleon's dominance and exploitation of the animals in Animal Farm. Party functionaries on both sides now live lives that are unrecognizable to the ordinary Ghanaians. Integrity, probity, and accountability have now been replaced by strategies for winning elections, regardless of how flawed the strategies and ideas are. A development that mirrors the changing of the old maxims at the Animal Farm from “four legs good, two legs bad” to “four legs good, two legs better”.

In the minds of the leadership of both the NDC and the NPP, the ultimate goal is not the development of Ghana or the improvement of people's living conditions. But winning a third successive election, which they labelled "breaking the eight". This is akin to Napoleon’s quest to remain in power as president, prioritizing personal power over the public good.

One of the key bones of contention between Napoleon and Snowball was the building of a windmill. In Ghana’s context, the windmill represents ideas they opposed, as well as, most importantly, the roles of the IMF and the World Bank. Just as Napoleon opposed and later claimed Snowball’s windmill idea as his own, which Snowball had stolen, Ghana’s two dominant political parties routinely campaign against certain issues, only to later adopt and perpetuate them for their own benefit. The repetitive cycle reinforces how original ideals are distorted as power consolidates.

Old Major, as a character representing Jerry John Rawlings at the beginning of Ghana’s political trajectory, died and became Napoleon, the leader. In his role as a leader and later as an ordinary citizen as ex-president, he had demonstrated certain qualities that make it impossible to equate him with the fictional character Napoleon. The fallout with NDC, one of the heads of the beast Napoleon had evolved into, over the erosion of some of the core principles he fought for, is a characteristic worth appreciating. At least we can say he was the only person who spoke out openly against his own party, something no politician in Ghana has ever done.

To the ordinary Ghanaian, this battle for superiority between the two heads of the same beast means continual bo***ge and suffering and the perpetuation of mediocrity. Until this beast is conquered and an alternative to it appears, true freedom and advancement remain an illusion.

Emmanuel Mensah

Eagle Mentality

04/19/2026

04/10/2026

04/09/2026

04/08/2026

04/07/2026

04/05/2026

04/04/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Organization

Shortcuts

Share

Category