On the sidelines of the 2020 two-horse race, is another partisan fight over EFL berets

On the sidelines of the two-horse race in the 2020 general elections is a three dog-fight over berets.

But the two main political rivals, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), appear poised to go for the red beret which has been adopted by Economic Fighters League, a pro-Nkrumahist political movement.

The red beret is a trademark accessory for left-wing groups and also signifies defiance.

But the fancy cap has been seen on NDC political activists and its leaders, particularly those of the 31st December Women’s Movement stock. The party’s National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, wore it for a demonstration last July.

The NDC National Organiser,Joshua Akamba, also wore the soft red cap.

The NDC has reverted to calling each other comrades, a term it appeared to have abandoned while in power.

The NPP’s Anthony Karbo appears a fan of the revolutionary piece of regalia.  Karbo, once a National Youth Organiser of the party tested political waters with the beret.

But the beret has not really caught on with the grassroot of the center-right party. Karbo has modeled his political rhetoric on South African controversial youth icon Julius Malema.

Malema founded the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, a political party that took South African politics by storm in 2013. It now has 44 seats in the 400-seater National Assembly.

The EFF has provided inspiration for socialist-leaning groups across Africa. In Uganda, pop star turned leading opposition figure Bobby Wine who leads the “People Power” movement has adopted the red beret.

Photo: [Second from right] Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu known as Bobby Wine

Ghana’s Economic Fighters League also makes no qualms about its ideological links with the EFF.

Photo: Ernesto Yeboah leads Ghana's Economic Fighters League

Both political groups believe in the nationalisation of corporations and companies of strategic national interests such as the mines.

The beret is the political symbol that easily identifies with Marxist philosophy and the world’s snuffed out revolutionaries, Che Guevara of Argentina and Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso.

Photo: Thomas Sankara led Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987 until he was assassinated by 
in a coup d'etat organised by his former colleague Blaise Compaore.

Leader of the EFL Ernesto Yeboah wants the NDC, in particular, to stay off the beret and the NPP to end any nascent desires in the red cap.

“There is an elaborate plan to usurp the wind in our sail. I knew this was coming,” he told theghanareport.com.

Photo: Some leaders of the Economic Fighters League

The beret’s return to Ghana’s political symbolism comes after it died down with the 31st December Movement founded in 1982 by former First, Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

The NPP and the NDC do have a history of copying ideas and even slogans, usually from weaker political parties.

The CPP has complained its policy to provide free SHS as contained in its 2008 manifesto was stolen by the NPP and is now the government’s most popular flagship programme.

The NDC in 2008 also took over the “Yeresesam” or “Change” hand gesture popularised by then CPP Presidential candidate Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom.

The then NDC Presidential candidate Prof. Evans Atta Mills eventually won that presidential election.

Doing some of the accusations, the NPP has also pointed out that the NDC plagiarised its promise in the 2016 manifesto to create additional regions.