The Missing Condiment in the Political Serving

Do you care to heed sound counsel?

If you do, then let me tell you something. Never tune in a radio programme discussing politics when your kids are around, especially if you cherish their moral health. By simply heeding this counsel, you immunize them against the havoc-wrecking tuberculosis of insolence.

Suffice to say that there is a growing discontentment with politics (the type conducted on the airwaves) and a resulting mistrust of politicians on the part of the man called discerning Ghanaian. “Is this fact,” you may ask, “verifiable?” Well, all you have to do is to randomly solicit the views of people on the streets, in the offices and markets today, party officials excluded. Views expressed would certainly register a widespread dissatisfaction with the awful incivility that now passes for objective political discussions. If the caring politicians are those we frequently hear on radio (I’d like to be wrong), then I think we have every reason to be pessimistic and further fret at the prospect of a decade-to-come Ghana.

Our burgeoning democracy has, for quite some years now, been scoring high marks in standardized international examinations. We are told with praise that significant gains are being made each passing year. Could it be, as A.W Tozer once wrote of a different situation, “that our gains are but losses spread over a wider field?” Progress we are making for sure, but what our applauding examiners fail to tell us (or rather are not interested in) is the increasing poor performance in moral values; respect for one another in spite of differences and the ready giving of “honour to whom honour” is due. We have been wanting in the basic understanding that manliness consists in respect rather than in the insulting disrespect being manifested nowadays on the political scene.

The temper of the time is against the golden rule which stipulates that one’s integrity is best demonstrated when he remembers to do unto others as he would have them do unto him. Constructiveness has lost its bearing as invariably-captious comments, are exacerbating, instead of pointing the way for solutions to besetting national problems. Even the native togetherness that prevails during traditional events is in danger of disintegration. How? Festivals and funeral grounds are now battlefields as opposition tries to assert a recouped popularity and government an increasing power and control; the clear message of “we are in power.”

It is needful to say that man’s forbearance of disturbing infantile antics normally comes with the expectation of maturity as years advance. Irksome dissatisfaction thus becomes inevitable when infantilism unfittingly persists into adulthood. The political scene, as it stands now, is bereft of maturity. In other words, political immaturity is the disheartening diagnosis of the day. An everyday intake of a malnourished political serving is the obvious cause of this deficiency. The loss of political maturity has occasioned a loss of confidence in the ability of politicians to steer the affairs of the nation to greater heights.

This development has led to the expression of various concerns by those optimistic about a free, unhindered exchange and interplay of opinions within the limits of a democratic setting. The former UN Secretary-General also joined the long list of alarmed individuals (the President included) with his “disincentive to development” admonition. His was the gentle decrying of the ‘pull-him-down (PhD)’ mentality rife in national politics. Unquestionably, the political culture leans towards the unabashed celebration of failures. Successes of previous governments are treated in so evasive a mood as to prevent any perpetuation of applause thereof. Governments would fain condemn than commend, yea, in order not to lose party popularity by patting the backs of predecessors for productive goals achieved. By so doing, animadversions presently outweigh commendations in everything, even good laudable things of national import. No one wants to commend; everyone wants to condemn.

While in Ghana, U.S President Obama publicly commended the wisdom of his predecessor’s programme for Africa without any hint of his failures, which in the estimation of the Democrats, are many. To wash their dirty linens in public is obviously the last thing these Americans would do. Any such undertaking on the side of our leaders is considered a disturbance to the absolute statements of party mathematics. Our leaders are only content to delegate the job of commendation to strangers far removed from our proud collective history. Acknowledging past governments and officials as indispensable parts of a promising democratic history is a task too difficult to accomplish. And we sit down without wondering why our former leaders resort to the refuge of international rewards, in order, I dare say, to console themselves that they, at least, did something for their motherland. And what else can they do when all honourable honour is denied them soon after handing over power to a political opponent?

The free expression of an opinion without fear and intimidation is a priceless treasure to be jealously guarded. But retaliatory insults on radio (an abuse of free expression) are a real nuisance to our common aspiration; an affront to that democratic ideal that recognizes as a strong and auspicious point, “the toleration, and even encouragement, of dissent.” Mushrooming newspapers are deepening the woes and one cannot help but wonder how they make profits with such poor journalistic offering. Maybe the National Media Commission would do well to categorize some newspapers as party newsletters so as to relieve us of the trouble we go through in winnowing heartless propaganda from considerate and objective reportage.

Radio discussion panels have become miniatures of the boxing ring, and the boiling tempers of party hotheads have interrupted many a programme. Also, social commentators, for reasons best known to them, comfortably hold on to rumours even when credible clarifications have established the very opposite. No wonder they are wanting in the approval of the ordinary Ghanaian they claim to represent. Meanwhile, an untouchable elite class of radio broadcasters are dominating and directing the trend of political discussions. Having assumed an air of admirable neutrality, these hosts of morning shows proudly forget that they are active conspirators in the menace plaguing the political scene. It is as if they have been commissioned to lure politicians to say things they otherwise would not say. You are always left wondering as to why they delight in replaying unfortunate political statements. Sometimes, they seem more as destroyers than as co-builders of a strong democratic infrastructure.

The quest for national progress must begin with the insistent demand for maturity, not only from politicians, but every participant in the national conversation. These people must be willing to discipline themselves so as to be a discipline unto others. It is believed that party politics comes with good intentions and we dare not allow this to fall into evil company; the insincere association of opportunists who are willing to bow to any sinister thing for the sake of political advantage. We have to close that chapter of unguided political utterances and shameful behaviour. It would be costly to fall short of a civic duty to hold politicians and social commentators accountable for their words and deeds. We must emphatically reject the peddlers of hate politics and give them a hot chase into the valley of political oblivion.

The pithy Wesleyan precept, “we may think and let think; we may agree to disagree", while addressed to the church, is at the same time appropriate for the country. Invaluable good has come to nations that adopted and adapted it to their situations. Perhaps, this is nothing new, nevertheless, I say to political parties and social commentators that the national conversation would prove tumultuous unless we “agree to disagree” in the absolute meaning of this ageless phrase. That means that irreconcilability of political opinions has nothing to do with mutual respect, comportment and congeniality. A Rawlings and a Kuffour after all is said and done, are Ghanaians, only with different views of why some things ought to be done in a certain way for the good of all. For political opinion, they say, comes, and goes over and over again. Just consider how the sweet-sounding “money in the pocket” chorus in opposition loses its melody when power is captured. The talk then shifts to “prudent financial management” evidenced by a reducing inflation. Yes, opinion comes and opinion goes, and that is why we don’t have to kill ourselves over fly-by-night party views and ideologies.

The basis for politics is the hope of an increment in the fortunes of the country and citizens as a whole. The actualisation of this hope lies not in one political opinion and hence maturity is an imperative must in this promising journey to greatness. Maturity clearly stands out as the urgent need of the hour. We need leaders, politicians and citizens with self-control who would lead the way in that self-restraint required of nation transformers and heroes. Would you not like to be associated with such noble class of people?

Gideon Amoako Sarpong

2010/2011 NSP/ Gomoa Brofoyedur Meth. JHS /aca_education at yahoo dot com / 0243354091