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22.04.2012 Feature Article

Winner takes all?

Winner takes all?
22.04.2012 LISTEN

Former president John Agyekum Kuffour once said, “It is better to be a messenger in the ruling party, than the General Secretary of a party in opposition.” Former Minister of education, Dr Ekow Spio- Gabrah once described life in opposition as “hell”. You see to understand sometimes what goes on in the mind of a Ghanaian politician; statements like those just quoted are instructive.

In light of the explosive statements of Hon. Kennedy Agyepong, MP for Assin North, the NPP has referred to incidents in Odododiodio to seek equalisation. The NDC has also sought to rope-in incidents in Okere as proof that Odododiodio is not a unique case. NPP says Ursula Owusu was assaulted, NDC says their Techiman women's organiser was assaulted. And in all this I sit back and wonder what's wrong with our politics. It's the 21st Century! But then, from the statements quoted, I think we can understand.

In the past week I've heard some political commentators refer to our constitution as one that grants too much power to the president. This they claim, makes our political environment unnecessarily charged, since the winner of the general election takes it all. This sounds rather euphemistic to me. I believe what they are really saying is that the winner takes all the opportunity to loot, leaving the opposition with some parliamentary seats to also grab what they can.

The level of resources needed to be competitive as a political party leaves little room for altruism. We need to ask our politicians: If all you want to do is better the life of your people, then why all the violence and incitement to violence? As one follows politics closely, it becomes evidently clear that in the quest for power, few things are off the table. And these things reduce by the day.

But let's get pragmatic for a second. What do we do to reduce the at all cost phenomenon? Should we allow Metropolitan, Municipal and District Executives to be elected? That'll certainly give an opportunity for parties to grab something extra. Or should some of the president's power to appoint be transferred to parliament? Maybe the power to appoint Electoral Commission members? Maybe the power to appoint board members of some authorities or commissions? The power to create regions or alter their borders?

I must say that any attempt to change our constitution because our political parties refuse to be civil is a sad move for our country. We the people would be conceding that our parties are stronger than our constitutional institutions. But it is too much to ask that our parties fall in line. It is about time we accept the reality of our politics.

Jerome Kuseh
[email protected]
readjerome.blogspot.com

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