The Façade of Democracy in Ghana

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• WIAFE 12 years ago

  Ghana has no democracy. Elections alone does not democracy make. Look at the amount of time and resources Ghanaians spend on politics.
  
  If we spend even a quarter of the time and energy to discuss enterpreneurship--and i ...
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  Ghana has no democracy. Elections alone does not democracy make. Look at the amount of time and resources Ghanaians spend on politics.
  
  If we spend even a quarter of the time and energy to discuss enterpreneurship--and innovation, creativity, and ways to maximize our God-given resources--we will be far ahead.
  
  But here we are spending precious time on theatrics by Mugo Yaro (aka ALL DIE BE DIE) Mosquito, dishourable (sir) JOhn--and such crazies who have no idea how to create any real jobs.
  
  It is madness. That Ghanaians are enthralled with this political sickeness--while our gold, diamonds, and oil are being shipped out.
  
  We need jobs--not politics or some stupid notion of democracy.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  Yours is a sound assessment of where we are as a continent. I hasten to add that given the disparate nature of African culture, traditions and community and governance structures; plus the continuing influence of former "colo ...
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  Yours is a sound assessment of where we are as a continent. I hasten to add that given the disparate nature of African culture, traditions and community and governance structures; plus the continuing influence of former "colonial powers" and the present and continuing interference from "current global powers / ideological blocs, it is hard for me to see how we can provide a unified definition of "democracy" int he African context.
  
  Your central point i.e. "Transparency, Accountability, Good Governance are in fact underpinned by the basic principles of manners, which require one to be thoughtful and respectful of other" to me is the most important and key aspect of governance.
  
  This means that all are within the law, irrespective of 'social class, status, position, education, religion or gender'. Respect for ALL without exception is fundamental to the way we do things and I am sure you will agree that within religious teaching (which Africans profess to passionately espouse), equality before God is fundamental.
  
  And if what Abraham Lincoln famously said is anything to go by i.e. "If two things are the same, then they must be equal"; then the basis of our very co-existence and proper governance must be that since we are all the same and therefore equal (before everything), we must operate as such, not cheat (or outsmart each other, be considerate) and maintain UNITY in our DIVERSITY. These to me are fundamental to any SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY and GOVERNANCE. I am afraid to say that even the so-called "WESTERN DEMOCRACIES" WHICH BOAST A LONG EXISTENCE, have not all got it right even to this day and sadly our current performance as nations is partly based on our leaders' COPYING or emulating the very ills of western democracy. Would you agree?

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• Kwobia (Toronto ) 12 years ago

  This brings into mind the issue of Nana Akufo Addo's law certificates.Does he have any or not.There are serious issues that are lingering in the air.Honesty and integrity are integral part of democracy.

  This brings into mind the issue of Nana Akufo Addo's law certificates.Does he have any or not.There are serious issues that are lingering in the air.Honesty and integrity are integral part of democracy.

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• Ekow Eshun 12 years ago

  Thought provoking and very true.
  Basic manners is lost in the country. Democracy works because their is respect of not only the process but of the people and not only at election time.
  
  There are examples of booming econom ...
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  Thought provoking and very true.
  Basic manners is lost in the country. Democracy works because their is respect of not only the process but of the people and not only at election time.
  
  There are examples of booming economies and good governance all over the world. The idea is to develop a brand that works with the values that society wants to uphold. We are all examples good or bad to the ones following us. Maybe the answer is not democracy. Maybe the answer lies in trusting each other again. Be our brothers keeper. Becoming accountable to others. Ghana to be a great nation that it has the potential to become they need to broker a new deal with the society and government as partners. Get a management team and work towards a mandate of ten years to greatness. Get the country to rally behind the cause of being great together. Does it matter if a guy is a lawyer or do you want a good Manager? In Africa there is no shortage of leaders ( good or bad ) or politcians.
  
  Ghana does not need a political machine. They need a Country Development Manager. Someone with no political motivation. Their job is to develop and lead the team in making Ghana a first world society in 20 yrs.
  
  If the government wants to end corruption, then make it a capital crime and run the purge. Develop a business model that empowers real practical partnership with local and foreigners. All foreigners should have a local Ghanaian business partner. Stop the small scale mining activities because they are killing people and wasting farmlands. In my opinion there is more gold in the human head than we will ever find in the ground. In short develop people. Nkrumah's Vision was to develop people because he knew the answer to build a great nation is to develop great people. People want to work to support their families and contribute to a great society. Connect the country to a cause that inspires. Introduce it in school and at every level of the society. Be the example of it and see how quickly things will turn out for the better because we can unite people behind one mind and one country.

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• Vuvuzela 12 years ago

  Interesting post Ekow.

  Interesting post Ekow.

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• Vuvuzela 12 years ago

  Daniel, you've made a lot of sense in this article but the fact that you failed to create paragraphs in the text makes its reading feel lazy.
  
  I have always advised that articles be given enough "air" to help its readabili ...
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  Daniel, you've made a lot of sense in this article but the fact that you failed to create paragraphs in the text makes its reading feel lazy.
  
  I have always advised that articles be given enough "air" to help its readability and comprehension. Next time, I want to see you do that.
  
  Coming to the article, I find it very interesting as your reasons of having to put up with democracy are well articulated. I should add, that the most preponderate reason that permits Ghanaians to be so undisciplined is and utterly so savage is the fact that a huge number of people did wrong without getting severely reprimanded for it. This, in event, creates a cycle from which breaking of would be difficult.
  
  To start of, we need the review of legislation to put this back on track but we must first begin to carefully consider the reinforcement of laws in Ghana, and it must be very severe. Ghanaians respect only when they are beaten, and you know people who ONLY respond to what should come to then as normal when they are beaten can't be NORMAL people, but that is the way to go if we must restore faith and some dignity to our institutions and ourselves.
  
  Democracy as we have it in Ghana and the rest of Africa is a mirage; it is not even closely related to the democracy of the west where laws are efficiently applied as contained in constitutions and new bills drafted each time one is required to check or control the behavior of citizens. In Africa, we accept the "freest" part and reject one that enforces transparency, accountability and honesty. So when a person feels "big" and uncontrolled, what trails him next borders on disrespect, chronic incivility and savagery.
  
  This is why I believe we need "someone" to be completely in charge; it is my belief Mahama would succeed if he understands he has to crack the whip, and immediately.

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• Ekow Eshun 12 years ago

  You said it , and I have to agree. a Zero Tolerance mechanism is needed now.

  You said it , and I have to agree. a Zero Tolerance mechanism is needed now.

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• Ama Adamson 12 years ago

  article

  article

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