“I never go down with my dreams” Gideon Aryeequaye

Former anchor of e.tv Ghana’s Prime News, Gideon Aryeequaye says he still holds on to the dream of becoming a member of parliament for the newly created Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom constituency of Accra.

Although Gideon has for the second time lost the bid to represent the NDC at the upcoming general elections, he has stated that he would not give up but will gird his loins and bring to life “the beautiful vision I have for the constituency.”

Speaking to Rashida Nasamu on e.tv Ghana’s flagship programme, Awake, Gideon said he welcomed the defeat during the counting of the ballots cast and immediately went ahead to congratulate his opponent.

He said, “You know, before we went for the contest I had prepared a very wonderful victory speech and a defeat speech. Because I knew it was either A or B and unfortunately I had to present the latter.”

According to him, his vision for the constituency was one which would give the youth an opportunity to get involved in the socio-economic development of Weija and it is for that reason that he would not give up on pursuing the dream.

“I had a vision that I cannot let go. I had a beautiful vision for the constituency; they are largely the underclass and underprivileged. Fortunately for us, we are not landlocked so I was looking at glorifying parliament probably for the first time. Making it like a business sort of; getting a well furnished office for the constituency.”

“Gideon never goes down with his dreams. Obviously the dream must reflect because I was thinking of trying to get some funds for ourselves, I was gonna concentrate on agriculture…,” he further explained.

“A politician never gives up,” he went on, “but you need to try another time.”

What would motivate a journalist to take up politics?

Throughout his career, Gideon was known for his astute and unbiased way in the presentation of issues to his viewers. It therefore, came as a surprise to many when news circulated that he was venturing into politics.

However, for Gideon, as far as he is a journalist, he sees himself as a politician.

He explained to Rashida Nasamu that, “You would agree with me that in about thirteen or fourteen years that I’ve been in broadcasting, it’s been an interaction with politicians on morning shows, breakfast shows; so you are virtually a politician if you are not aware. Because I get to understand the issue and then I put the questions because if I do not understand the issue how do I go about it. Therefore, a journalist has to understand the issue and put it out there.”

Gideon further explained that his motivation for vying for the Weija seat was due to the large nature of the constituency.

“I looked at the trend and I realized that the Weija constituency is too big a constituency to be managed by one person. I realized that the incumbent there was suffering and so for Gideon, I knew I was going to make a good impact and I knew that I was going to get the highest votes ever for myself and the president but unfortunately God has his own ways of doing things,” he said.

Gideon also took the opportunity to put to rest the controversies surrounding his membership in the NDC saying,“I have always been a card bearing member.”

He however glorified himself in the fact that, “people did not know where my lineage was. It means that I did my work well as a journalist because nobody could tell whether I was an NPP or an NDC or even if I was interested in politics at all.”

Gideon who is known for his skillful manner in the presentation of news and issues could, however, not come clear as to whether he was returning to broadcasting or not.

When asked by Rashida Nasamu if he was going to take up a ministerial position, this is what he had to say: “There is a lot to do but getting a ministerial appointment does not lie in my domain. Television is forever. You can always go and come back again. There is a lot on my sleeves; it can be on television or elsewhere.”

“I am not the aggressive type of politician. I never showed bias in anything and I say it as it is. If I had to come back on television, people would say, ‘is this the same Gideon who was backing one political party’?

“If there are musicians who can back people during elections and yet go back to do their music and people buy their music all the same, that is how it’s supposed to be. Everybody has the right to belong and nobody should be faulted for belonging to one political party or the other,”he stated.