Bad governance, Africa's woes - MP

Accra, April 17, GNA - The man in the street has not benefited much from the huge resources of the African continent because of bad governance, Mr Jonathan Tackie-Komme, Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, said on Monday.

Addressing Christians at a non-denominational church service organized by local Council of Churches within the Odododiodio Constituency as part of the Easter festivities, Mr Tackie-Komme stressed that if Africa were to hold its own in the 21st Century and give meaning to an Africa renaissance then all bad governments must be changed at the polls.

He said effective decentralisation was a by-product of good governance and the forthcoming District Assembly Elections and the role of Assembly members for rapid social economic change needed to engage serious attention.

This implied that the right calibre of candidates should offer themselves for election and it was for them to understand that local development was now at the district level.

He said the activities of such a governing body ought to be based on the rule of law, transparency, accountability and participatory democracy.

"Local government could bring about the desired change because by definition and function they are close to the people and their problems."

He said this year's District Assembly Elections offered the nation an opportunity for a review of experiences in the overall governance of the country and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the assembly system.

In this regard; "we can learn from our experiences, so that past mistakes can be avoided and the gains consolidated". Mr Tackie-Komme explained that for effective de-centralised system to be operational the tenets of good governance, prudential use of human capital and natural resources must be maximised for the welfare of the people.

Speaking on the theme for the Mass Worship; "Reconciliation, Re-organisation and Revival for Spiritual and Physical Development," Mr Tackie-Komme said Christians and non-Christians should use the sacrifices of Christ to come together for purposeful ventures. "We should re-direct our activities and energies towards the love of ourselves and the society, and indeed our maker."

He urged Ghanaians to eschew "hatred, bitterness, rancour and to rather accommodate one another, love one another so that together we can build our country, community and family".

The MP urged the people to avoid the politics of ethnicity and divisive tendencies but to rather practice things that united them as one people with a common destiny for the betterment of Ghana. The Churches which organized the service included; Freeman Methodist, Saint Mary's Anglican, Presbyterian Church of Ghana James Town Branch, Resurrection Presbyterian and Holy Trinity Cathedral.