Fighting The Depravity

Jerry John Rawlings

There could not have been a better way of describing the current depraved state of affairs in the country than former President Jerry John Rawlings did a couple of days ago.

While some would, for political convenience, demur on the issues he raised, for us and the upright and sincere Ghanaians, they are without blemish.

Known for his no-bars expression about what he feels and stands for, he presented a state-of-the-nation address in a different form, as one with a stake in the scheme of things.

It was one of those rare moments when the largely stressed Ghanaians are helped to determine where the country has reached on the democratic and morality ladder, especially after being bombarded with confusing state-sponsored propaganda.

For someone who led a march against the status quo some three decades ago, because of what he then saw as a prevailing moral decadence, it behooves him to seek a reversal of the times. Keeping mute under such circumstances cannot be an acceptable option for a man who founded and thrust now President Mills onto the political plane with sugar-coated words to support his decision.

The former law teacher has not only disappointed the man he promised to consult 24-hours a day, he is stabbing him in the back as the former president himself observed sometime ago.

What the former President poured out is no different from what the leadership of the largest opposition party and indeed most Ghanaians have persistently complained about.

Outstanding instances of corruption have been stubbornly swept under the carpet by the ruling political party and against the backdrop of government's indifference and outright leadership paralysis Ghanaians have been left with no option than to draw their own conclusions.

As founder of the ruling party and who championed the campaign which narrowly brought President Mills to power, Mr. Rawlings's lamentation are justifiable as the ship of state veers away from the course of political righteousness.

Most Ghanaians are now living in a state of hopelessness, watching helplessly as those at the helm throw overboard the determinants of democracy and decent politics.

When lies appear to have triumphed over truth, the situation is definitely short-lived and very soon the latter shall overshadow the former and all those who partook in sustaining it, as they perambulate the corridors of power, savouring the fruits of the open thievery, shall stand in front of their compatriots stark naked and crestfallen.

Social justice and accountability which Mr. Rawlings has incessantly harped upon are essential components of civilized societies and upon which democracy is hinged.

A system in which the foregone do not exist cannot be considered truly democratic and therefore inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution.