For the first time in my history, I voted during my school's SRC elections.
It was around two pm and I was returning to campus from the psychiatric hospital where I have been placed for clinicals. I was still in my uniform because I knew that if I went to my hostel to change, I wouldn't come back and vote. I have a tendency of sleeping for hours when I step into my room after clinicals.
There was excitement in the air. People were shouting slogans of various teams. Team K, Sir John, Abotsi and what have you.
There was one person shouting about the individual I was going to vote for. He called her Naa Obaa Sima and Naa Tundra in the same breath (No, I am not going to delve into Ghanaian humour now. That will need its own post or two...or hundred). I giggled a little. Myself, I was in high spirits. For the first time in the history of the university -- or as far as my google search could tell -- a female was running for president.
There was a time, I wanted to go for girl summit. I was the right age and it would have looked great on my CV (I used to equate that to my worth). There was this one essay we had to write though... what will you do if you weren't afraid? This is what I wrote.
I WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT
If I was not afraid that the very women I stand for will reject me and that the men will snicker at me, I will run for president. If I were not afraid to fail, I will run for president.
As a nursing student, my school is predominantly female. But ladies occupy positions like vice president and secretary. In University of Cape Coast, these positions are usually held by women that are pretty and fair. So if I were not afraid, I’ll run just to proof a point.
I didn't go for the summit and I did not run for president. What I did though, was to vote for one who did...run for president, that is. After all, here was someone brave enough to live my dream.
By nightfall, the results were released. She came in third out of six candidates with 17.6% of the voting population casting their votes for her.
Do you know why this is a win in my eyes? 1,879 people have broken from the mentality that women cannot lead. Those 1,879 people will influence their families, friends and co-workers. They will tell others to learn to look beyond gender and discover the brave heart of a human being who can.
In the end, all can be summed up in this picture. I am sure it was taken when she was taking pictures for her campaign posters. It is being used with permission from her of course. It is one of a peaceful and beautiful sunset. In more ways than one, it is clairvoyant. The sun has indeed set on one chapter only to rise on another. With all the 1,879 voters, and hopefully you and I will together look forward to that brighter sunrise of a genderless society.
The ground had already been broken.
I will just leave this here...
Mark 12:25
For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
