Holding Our Leaders Accountable – Our Civic Duty!

In my earlier article titled, “Lovers and Killers of Ghana”, I indicated that we all have contributed to making Ghana what it is today; and that it will take the combined efforts of every Ghanaian to build the glory of Ghana and make her great and strong, indeed. Today, my focal lens is on our politicians – the elected and the appointed. Why are most politicians not living up to expectation? Why are they not fulfilling their campaign promises? Why are they not discharging their duties creditably? The answer is obvious – we are not holding them accountable on their promises and their responsibilities. Most politicians make gargantuan promises during election campaigns only to abandon them when elected. Politicians have the responsibility of serving their people accountably and transparently; and it is our duty as good citizens of our dear nation to ensure that they do that.

In fact, democracy goes beyond holding successful elections. But unfortunately, we have gradually reduced democracy to just the successful organization of elections. Immediately we are done casting our votes, and the results are declared, we coil back into our shells, fold our hands and watch what will happen. But the truth is; things don’t just happen. People make things happen! Results don’t just emerge, people work to get results. So why do we think that the development of our nation will just happen without us doing anything to make it happen? If we want to realize the full benefits of democracy, we must hold our politicians/leaders accountable on their campaign promises; and on their responsibilities.

As citizens, we have the constitutional right, even a duty, to hold our elected and appointed officials accountable. We have left our leaders to do what they want without any recourse to the development of our nation. It is our civic duty to hold them accountable. If we fail to do that, we let Ghana down and we disappoint the future generation. We elect officials into power and we don’t ensure that they deliver on their promises. They make unachievable promises because they know the average Ghanaian will soon forget that they made those promises. They know they will be left off the hook and go scot-free even if they do not deliver on their promises.

Why are we not holding our leaders/politicians accountable? Are our politicians walking the talk? Are they living up to their promises, especially campaign promises? Why are we sitting down unconcerned whilst our leaders are having a field day? Is it the case of the “citizens sleeping and the leaders destroying the nation” by the day?

Where has the spirit of patriotism vanished to? Where have we dumped our civic duties and responsibilities? If you love Ghana, you will not keep quiet and watch things assume a downward spiral. If you care about the development of Ghana, you will monitor and follow with keen interest the developmental projects going on in your locality or constituency. If you love Ghana, you will ask the right questions; you will ask your Member of Parliament why he/she is not delivering on their promises. You would ask them about the status of the developmental projects in your constituency; you would ask them what they are using their share of MPs’ Common Fund for. If you love Ghana, you would be interested in what is happening in Ghana.

Many fine Ghanaian professionals and executives seem not to care about the happenings in Ghana. They do not want to dint their reputation; so they would rather keep quiet than speak up for them to be painted with a political brush and even lambasted. They know they have to speak up; they know they have to hold our elected officials and other leaders accountable; but they will not; for reasons best known to them.

Most of them are comfortable; they can afford the high utility tariffs; they can afford the sky rocketing fuel prices. They will get a stand-by generator so that the “dum so dum so” will not affect them. But can these members of the middle and upper class be exempted from the consequences of the happenings in our dear nation? I dare say “No”! They cannot escape the venom of armed-robbers who think society has failed them. Indeed, they cannot escape the sting of the kidnappers who will demand a huge ransom over their children; not talking about the trauma their children will go through in the hands of these kidnappers.

So you see, you can’t say you won’t be concerned or bothered. We are all in the same boat as Ghanaians on a stormy sea; either we rock the boat together or we sink together. There is neither middle ground nor escape for anyone. So if you think you are comfortable and hence will not hold our leaders accountable, please think again. Let the patriotic citizens of mother Ghana rise up! Let all who love Ghana and seek her welfare speak up! Let all who care about the development of Ghana wake up from their slumber and hold our leaders accountable. Let us stop looking at issues through the lens of our political parties. That is the only way to hold our politicians in check and ensure that they deliver on their promises; and continue to hold our trust. If they don’t deliver on their promises; if they don’t live up to their responsibilities, let us vote them out. That is how they will take us serious. That is our civic duty! Let every Ghanaian everywhere stand up and make this patriotic song come alive:

Ma oman yi heaw. Ghana man ye woara wo de oo Dwene Oman yi ho. Menka se wonfa ho

Moma yenyinaa yebom. Yenfa koro ye ntena Biako wre duro egu oo. Tikoro nko agyina oo

Momma yenyinaa yebom. Obiara nye nafamu de oo oman yi benya nkosuo o. Ghana be tu mpon oo

God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong!

Patricia Abena Konneh is an HR Professional and a Personal Development Ambassador. She's the author of the highly acclaimed book titled, "Uncovering the Hidden Self – A Rare Insight Into Personal Discovery and Development”." She's spoken in major youth conferences in Ghana."