Whole society responsible for governance - JAK

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday said it is unacceptable to hold Government solely responsible for national governance under a democratic system of administration.

"It should have become clear by now, that the whole society is responsible for governance, and that indeed, it is the society, which should work hard to keep government very responsible and accountable," he said at the 10th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards/Dinner night in Accra.

President Kufuor whose speech was read on his behalf by Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, expressed concern about the "large proportion of the citizenry," including some journalists, who still hold government solely responsible for governance, as they did under colonial rule and military dictatorships.

"It is wiser and safer to be a passive and apathetic citizen than an active responsible citizen who should demand efficiency, transparency and accountability of a governance institution, in the absence of very clearly defined rules and regulations, strong and capable enforcing agencies, accounted for holding government solely responsible.

Sadly, even now, with the current democratic system of governance, which guarantees human rights and all other rights, under the Constitution, citizens are still cynical of the system, and continue to cling to the old way of doing things," he said.

He called on Journalists to join the crusade for change in society's attitude towards governance, stressing critical issues of the past that lead to fragility of the nation's governance institutions needs to be acknowledged and dealt with, to facilitate future progress.

President Kufuor said the legislature, judiciary, political and administrative wings of the executive, the security apparatus, traditional authority, as well as civil society organisations, including the media and religious bodies, have been "raped and assaulted" under previous systems of governance.

Their growth and development have thus, been impeded and stunted. Administrative rules, procedures and guidelines for some of them are either non-existent, or lack transparency.

The result is archaic, non-performing institutions and a demoralised society, highly mistrustful of its own institutions. "Bereft of self-confidence, individually and collectively, they hold government solely responsible for national development and their well-being."

President Kufuor said in a bid to change this negative attitude, the government had ensured the establishment of various institutions of governance as required under the constitution.

Government has also endeavoured, within the limited resources, to equip some in critical need to enhance their operational performance. He said positive actions of government would yield no dividends, without corresponding responses from various institutions of governance. Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, GJA President, in her address stressed the relevance of media responsibility and accountability to strengthen Ghana's democratic development.

She also condemned bad reportage of ethnic and tribal issues by some media houses and appealed to such institutions and Journalists to desist from the practice.

"I believe the media should work to support social cohesion and not allow itself to be used to sow seeds of unnecessary divisions among our people. The media should be at the forefront to motivate Ghanaians to tackle the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment which continue to be our greatest enemies as a people," the GJA President stated.

Let not the enemy of the media however jump to the conclusion that the concern about responsibility in any way justifies the return of draconian laws to regulate the media... We believe in the adequacy of the 4th Republican Constitution in shaping the parameters for the work of the media."

Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Ambassador to Sierra Leone who chaired the Award Night called for a sober reflection on the role of the Journalists and the Association in the modern governance of the country. 24 Aug. 2003