Giving Politics Bad Name

Politics has been given such a bad nomenclature that belonging to what should have been a noble occupation is more often than not regarded with a sneer.

To put it brusquely, politics has become in our part of the world in Africa, a byword for treachery, insincerity and obsession with overnight wealth to the detriment of the public kitty. That is why it is an attraction for those seeking to get rich overnight and an aversion for others endowed with rich experience but dread joining the ranks for fear of being labelled as crooks.

When people make their positions known on given national issues, especially if they are unpalatable to those in power, these suggestions or even recommendations are labelled politics and deliberately starved of any deference.

Politics, a respectable occupation and a means of rendering service to the people, has suffered the contempt of many over the years because those who have found themselves in it have been unable to steer clear of the trappings of the offices they hold.

Obscene flaunting of wealth when persons on whose back they rode to power barely eat three square meals a day is also responsible for the poor image of politics.

The 'this is not politics' warning when people pass them is intended to shield such persons against possible verbal lashing: the freedom to openly speak out against shortcomings of government is limited as a result.

Growth is therefore stunted when the fear of being labelled political prevents people from making meaningful contributions towards the development of the country.

Yesterday only a handful of clergymen escaped the usual tongue-lashing by the pro-NDC media for daring to express their views on critical national issues and the repercussions of these. Much as we were not surprised, we would have rather we toned down on such unnecessary and avoidable vitriolic, given their negative fallouts.

The level of intolerance and political mischief spanning insults to doctoring of voices, all towards making political gains, give politics a bad name and its players robbed of respectability.

Are we on the verge of forgetting the importance of multiparty democracy, a bulwark against a one-party state?

The qualities which politicians should exude are endangered, indeed rarely seen in those at the helm. Little wonder politics is unfortunately now a byword for treachery and raping of the public kitty.

Must politics be regarded with such contempt when it is the vehicle by which policies are adopted for the harnessing of our human and natural resources for development?

It is our dream that someday politics would be devoid of the negative qualities which give it a bad name and those coming to power imbued with the spirit of selflessness and genuinely obsessed with leaving indelible footprints for posterity to emulate and not despise.