In this episode, it is necessary to recapture the major salient points I made in my previous write-ups to give my readers some understanding of the complexities surrounding the search for the next President. My first point was on the Constitution and the power it entrusts to one person – the President, as a major setback in our search for true democracy.
John Adams (from President Jefferson’s letters) states that “power must never be trusted without check” but unfortunately Ghanaians have inherited a Constitution that has entrusted absolute power to one man without the necessary checks and balances.
The separation of powers that ensures democratic governance does not exist and the President and his followers always have a field day. As a nation, we abhor dictatorship but in reality the constitution has turned this country into a “one man show.”
I pointed out that POLITICAL PARTIES are used as tools by individuals to achieve their political ambitions and after elections they are abandoned. I observed that millions of supporters are deceived to believe that the leaders introduced at the various congresses are their true leaders but in reality they are not. The reason being that the Presidential candidates are not NURTURED, NOMINATED or OWNED by the political parties. The candidates present themselves as individuals who seek to lead their political parties. Mr. Alan Kyeremateng remarked that the NPP has no message. He would not have dared to make that statement if he had been nominated by the party. Ironically, when the Governments don’t perform well, it is the respective political party that is bashed.
A political party is defined as “a group of persons organized to acquire and exercise political power.” To achieve the objective, money is needed to organize, acquire and exercise the political power.
Unfortunately, the two main political parties, the NPP and NDC do not have money to run their own affairs. It is the individual presidential candidates who seek and find the money needed to run the political parties, presidential campaigns internally and at the national levels. Consequently, when the aspirants succeed, they exercises absolute political power and the political parties play second fiddle. This defeats the purpose of party politics and weakens the role a political party plays in governance.
I am not against individuals seeking to achieve their political ambitions but my beef is the erosion of the power of political parties.
Once a political party achieves electoral victory, the question arises as to how much influence the party has over the Government. Political parties present aspirants as their leaders and plead the support of Ghanaians for their election. Political parties are therefore answerable to Ghanaians for the conduct and performance of the leaders. Parties must be seen as more important than individuals and the victory at the elections must be taken as party’s victory and not that of the individual.
Unfortunately this has not been the case since “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. If political parties cannot wield any control over their governments, then our democracy is a fallacy.
Ghana needs a President who can carry his Party along otherwise the belief that a political party is in power is false.
The importance of close collaboration between the government and party, is the key to successful governance and gives true meaning to party politics. It kills apathy, provides the necessary checks and balances, removes disappointments among the rank and file and creates enthusiasm among the party faithful.
I observed that the quality of the president to be elected determines the fate of the nation in every four years and therefore as citizens we should not play politics with it.
The country is politically polarized between the NDC and NPP and therefore when it comes to elections, followers of these parties vote blindly without due diligence.
We fail to acknowledge that the election of that President will affect all of us be it NDC or NPP supporter. It is therefore important that in the election of the President, we abandon sycophancy, money, material gain and vote consciously for a candidate with unblemished character irrespective of the candidate’s party.
Lord Acton said “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” So in effect, all our Presidents through no fault of theirs have the tendency to become “corrupt” when they assume power because they have absolute power.
This becomes more disturbing when viewed against the background of the Presidency being the source of funding for campaigns and management of political parties. The President in order to meet this huge financial need may resort to some unethical means to find the money. Some of his actions may include giving major appointments to people not necessarily on merit but to those who might have contributed financially to the campaign or who will respond to Presidential needs favorably. Criticisms to his actions may not be questioned.
Lee Kuan Yew, the late leader of Singapore said “the worst disease in the world today is corruption”.
In Ghana, it has become a way of life and the only important factor that has undermined our development. We talk about it, we participate in it and encourage it. Institutions of governance whose responsibilities are to check corruption and other vices are themselves corrupt. So we need to elect a leader who can make these institutions work. Finding ONE person with zero tolerance for corruption irrespective of his political coloration is what we need. Preferably, a “konongo kaya president” who will not sit down and allow others around him, ministers and other high ranking appointees to amass wealth.
Luckily, with all the dirt being thrown at Dr. Bawumia, his attackers are silent on his incorruptible credentials and I dare say that amongst the current contestants, Dr. Bawumia stands tall.
The economic crisis demands a candidate who is capable of reversing the trends. New ideas and methods are required to solve many of the economic factors that have bedeviled the economy for many years. The old campaign messages of promising cash, food and jobs are outmoded. Subsides have weakened our economy for a very long time and we need to reverse it. The energy sector has challenges. We are unable to collect the cost of production of our utility services especially electricity and water from consumers. We need new approaches to improve our internal revenue collection and many more.
The solution to the crisis does not require a “know all” President simply because Ghana is endowed with intellectuals and technocrats in every field of economic endeavor who are readily available to advise the President. We have digitalized some administrative processes including payment of bills and we need to reduce human involvement and errors to curtail corruption. Any candidate who has demonstrated in the past corrupt, arrogant and dishonest tendencies does not deserve our votes.
The World Bank Country Director Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte says “Ghana saw the most dangerous contract agreements between2012 and 2016 and says they were the worse the world may ever see”. These Agreements, Power Purchase (PPA) and Independent Power Producers (IPP) compelled Ghana to pay GHC12 billion for power produced but not consumed. President Mahama signed these agreements during the “dumsor” era. The ex-president is seeking re-election in 2024, promising to introduce new approaches to poultry farming and silent on how the GHC15 million Asongtaba guinea fowls flew to Burkina Faso during his reign. “Eii asem beba dabi.”
I discussed generational problems which require generational leaders to find solutions instead of some septuagenarians whose priority suggest the rejuvenation of their grey hairs. The wind of change blowing across the country politically favors the younger generation of aspirants. We are in the digital age and majority of our population are below the age of 55 years whose understanding of issues are more digital. We therefore need a leader with digital mentality to solve digital problems and not android. Most of the older generation seeking to become Presidents must examine themselves and realize that they cannot be part of the solution. As my beloved late JH Mensah, a former Finance Minister of NPP said “check yourselves”.
What confronts us today is moral decadence especially corruption which has affected the fabric of society. Our sense of patriotism, honesty and integrity is very low. Ghana does not lack the intellectual capacity to find solutions to our problems however, we lack the discipline, commitment and moral courage to implement the solutions.
All we need is the election of ONE person from 33 million people, who must be disciplined, incorruptible, honest and humble with high sense of integrity. He must be a “konogo kaya President” who would not sit down and watch those around him and appointees to amass wealth. I know it is a daunting task but we need it to progress as a nation.
YES, It is possible. Elect Dr Bawumia.
By Brig-Gen (Rtd) J. Odei