Over
the last few years, the functionality of competitive party politics in democratization
process has become a subject of renewed deliberations after some unbridled
military dictatorship ended in Ghana, when political parties became the key
pillars of rule of law and the protection of human rights in a democracy where
good governance is imperative.
My
objective is to underline one important point, that democracy is not God-given
and that it is historically generated. Democracy is a history of collective
struggles over the expansion and provision of political atmosphere. It is a contestations
over the transfiguration of the human wrongs of marginalized groups and the
vulnerable into human rights, this I think is not debatable.
What
is debatable therefore, is the inability of the opposition parties to sacrifice
their parochial party interest and unite to advance for human rights and good
governance at the time when nothing seem to be going well.
There
seems to be broad agreement that democracy is a system of governance where
rulers are held accountable for their actions and inaction in the public realm
by citizens. But for Robert Dahl, it is the responsiveness of government to
take preferences of its citizens who in theory are supposed to be equal to
their rulers. An assertion that is never true on the face of the pink sheets as
per the better and further particulars. I require that Ghanaians have the
opportunities to formulate their preferences, articulate them and have them
considered in the conduct of government business.
These
credentials are in turn, dependent on the following institutional guarantees
that are cardinal to our democracy, thus to form and join any group, freedom of
expression, the right to vote and to be voted for into public office and the
right to proceed to the Superior Court when you feel piqued.
I
contend the erroneous impression that Ghana has three arms of government. To
me, we have as many as five arms of government, and not the three forced down
our throats in basic schools, the fourth being the press and the fifth
opposition political parties even though our Parliamentary seating arrangement
knows not parties like the late Osagyefo’s Convention Peoples Party (CPP), late
Dr. Hilla Liman’s Peoples National. Convention (PNC) and being managed by the
youngest presidential candidate of the century-Ayariga. Paa Kwesi’s Progressive People Party, and a
host of them not discounting the relevance of independent candidates.
Interestingly, there is either ‘national’ or ‘people’ running through the names
of the political parties.
Even
though opposition parties play important role in the shaping of state policy,
conducting civic education, and fighting corruption, sometimes alone and other
times in collaboration with the media,
they continue to suffer challenges that constrain the democratization
agenda.
Ruling
parties continue to dig deep into the treasury and use official resources to
out-compete opposition parties. Opposition parties continue to be victims of
legal and political restrictions designed by incumbent regimes.
I
think opposition parties are weakened because of the absence of an ideology
different from that of the ruling party, factional struggles over succession,
and/or the personality cult of the so called founding fathers.
To
sketch in full the contours of my pleadings, I wish to tender the analytical
stage for the unpacking my affidavits.
Opposition
Parties are supposed to provide alternative and solutions to carter for the
chronic youth unemployment that have bedeviled our cities and countryside. The
lack of economic opportunities which is responsible for the high levels
intolerance and crime in the country.
There
is ostensibly nihilism and hopelessness in the country. But what I have seen is
an irresponsible opposition that has performed miserably to live up to their
responsibilities.
Right
from when I first casted my biometrically verified valid vote to this moment
Ghana have seen the worst. To me Ghana and for that matter Ghanaians have not
had a respite from the bumbling incompetence and dismal performance of
political regimes so much so that the quality of life of the ordinary Ghanaian
has continually and geometrically deteriorated to the level that the life span
of an average Ghanaian has fallen to 35 years from 65 years in 200. This is
more than enough evident that the country is at the nadir.
It
is curious and surprising that abject poverty has completely enveloped the
country despite the fact that the country has earned more coins from the sale
of our natural resources including guinea fowls.
In
the face of massive erosion of national values and irresponsible governance by
the changing regimes in the past, it became essential that patriotic and
progressive citizens come together to form abroad based, national political
force to be in the forefront in the fight to enthrone responsible and responsive
government in order to arrest the prevailing national drift.
If
it became a national duty for nationalists minded and leaders of civil
societies to come together, setting aside their tribal, personal and political
differences to form a part to rescue the country from the miseries, why can’t
the numerous opposition parties with little or no offices as required by law to
team up with those seem to be big and resourced enough to absorbed the minor
ones?.
I
maintained that Opposition Parties are unpaid but dedicated resource fellows
for ruling governments. It is uncommon to see ruling regimes plagiarized the manifestos of opposition parties and adopt
their slogans, policies and programmes without credit; thereafter, turn to
accused them of been bereft of ideas and having no vision for the people they
wished to serve.
Which
is the more reason why I speak to you at the time when Ghana is experiencing
great difficulties. When companies are raking into their bank accounts what is
due our hard working youth, when tribal conflicts have torn the people apart
breeding violence, destruction, pain anguish and sorrow. When some regions have
virtually become ungovernable. At the time when some of our Youth stop at
nothing to travel outside in a bid to seek better life. Unfortunately the
Sahara desert has become a burial ground for some of those who want to escape
the harsh conditions in the country. Our country has today become the hub of
the world’s refugees and Chinese illegal miners.
What
is most disturbing and worrisome is that many of these problems have their root
course in the mismanagement and swindle in the political process to provide
better conditions for the citizenry.
In
a country where opposition is stifled and strangulated such that it does not
exit and the weak trampled upon. Freedom has become a scarce commodity which
can only be purchased by a few affluent. Those who are muscular, exercise the
power of life and death.
On
the other hand, if opposition is strong with a mission and works with passion,
it may generates an unstoppable force that can free the people from oppression,
and restoring to us our freedom and dignity.
However
parties in government worked harder to wane and suffocate opposition parties.
This is done in the hope that, those in government, no matter their poor
performance in office, are always guaranteed continuous stay in office. Hence
instead of concentrating their minds and efforts on offering good governance,
they spend time planning and implementing actions which have, adverse impact on
the fortunes of opposition parties and the nation as a whole.
Opposition
political parties need to work together to present a common agenda to challenge
the agenda of the ruling party. This strategy has been successful in time past
and must be revised and stopped the airwaves discords.
Because
when they unite to prosecute electoral agenda, it will produce a spark that
will light the hope of the hopelessness electorate that change is in the
offing. It becomes cooler to mobilize all those who do not like how things are,
and those who need change in the system. The ruling party is restrained from
considering the option of electoral manipulation seeing the surge in the
interest of the public.
It
is only important that opposition parties help citizens to know their rights.
Because people can only defend rights, they know are theirs. Ghana to me, need
a new thinking, a new attitude and a new orientation that will help us get crop
of leadership we need.
When
this is achieved, it will help creativity and innovation to flourish and
blossom. If this is not done, the Ghanaian will remain in servitude. Self-doubt
will continue to weaken our drive, undermine our vision, emasculate our
efforts, prevented us from dreaming big and acting big. That indeed is the
surest route to remain weak, poor; unripe and dependent.
Let
Opposition Parties not be seen as either confrontational or destructive, if
they aim at pointing hidden areas which the human eyes can easily overlook. It
is the opposition that will cry out for the oppressed, that they can organize
the weak and needy, so that help can reach them.
Because
it is the opposition that will ensure that the laws of the land are adhered to
by the rich and the poor alike. The parties are responsible for blowing the
whistle and beating the drums when the mighty in society try to cover their
crimes because of the privileged positions they occupy.
Every
society that places value on human dignity and cherishes freedom and liberty
must create room for a viable opposition.
It
is men and women of great courage, with love of country, who build great
nations. We in Ghana are one, and must work to make Ghana a good place to live
in devoid of political party ideologies, our best days are ahead. We have
enough human and material resources to build a better Ghana.
