The Grip Of A Crippling Status Quo

By Marricke Kofi Gane
In Ghana politics today, there are those in mainstream or forefront politics – those already in the middle of the political happenings. Then there are those on the perimeters commenting on, wishing, planning or even hoping to one day be in mainstream politics. Then of course there are those who want absolutely nothing to do with politics – either because that has always been their nature, they used to be involved but are now fed up, or who abstain from politics because it is dirty and unholy.

My fascination however is this – no matter whichever group one talks to about becoming politically active, the first thing you’ll get told is this – “then you will have to join one of the main political parties and orchestrate change from within” – and the reasons they give range from fascinating to mysterious. Some say because they are well established with the necessary “on the ground machinery”, others say because Ghana is extremely polarized along those 2 party lines and that will remain the case for eternity. To others, we have a large illiterate citizenry and all they know is NPP and NDC. In fact some will even go as far as show you Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum’s PPP as what will surely happen to anyone who dares go outside of the 2 political giant parties in Ghana today.

So I ask the question any thinker would ask:
Haven’t we had the NDC & NPP and derivatives of them all these years and what have we achieved under them cumulatively?

Have we arrived at the point of accepting that these 2 are the ONLY way out when for all these years we cannot deny they have been the ONLY way down – is it because, accepting that option relieves us of the sacrifices, critical and creative thinking needed to evolve a refined option that works for Ghana other than the NDC and NPP? How does that make us better than the very systems we are trying to change?

Maybe someday I may see it from your point of view. Maybe one day you will from mine. But until that happens, here is where I stand:

1. I think we all agree now that it is the systems that perpetuate the corrupt nature of Ghanaian politics. If that is the case, what happens to the many old and somewhat enlightened new generations who would rather not have anything to do with the very political monsters that have kept us where we are? Shall we force them to accept these 2 as the only choice there are?
2. And concerning the argument about changing political parties from within – I have wondered – how strategic is it to dedicate resources to de-worming an infested political party of its old ideologies, tactics and culture, when that can be directly applied to engaging with the citizens whose convincing is the biggest job for any political party?
3. For those who say the population is largely illiterate and that all they know is NDC or NPP or whoever can put money in their hands – I will be pragmatic and say you may be right. But I will also so, two other things (a) that we underestimate the intellect of the illiterate – and that comes at a cost and (b) have we at any time pinned our butts down to apply our brain at asking the question “how can we change that” – or is it much easier (with all the education we say we have acquired), to simply accept the status quo and spare ourselves the need to apply our brains. As illiterate as they may be, they have arrived at their current political disposition in reaction to what they have been offered politically all these years – could a change in the offering change their disposition to it? Maybe, but we would never find out if we don’t seek it out – Oh, I forgot, is it a Ghanaian thing that we don’t explore, we only accept what is and was and is it then fair to say it is the exact same reason we have been marking time all these 58 years?
4. I cannot answer for why Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum’s PPP is not working. He is a fine and refined entrepreneur and professional – whether he is cut out for politics – I do not know! But does his failure mean Ghana does not deserve a better option. Left to me, if all the smaller political parties joined forces, they stand a better chance at altogether seeing themselves in a coalition government – but sadly, it appears the disease is one – everybody wants to be the ruler. And it makes you wonder if Ghana is the real agenda or egoistic political greed.

So, my brothers, sisters and countrymen – why exactly are we screaming for change if our actions and the way we apply our thinking all shows that we want to keep accepting what has always been, now is, and what has NOT yielded us anything to date? Do we genuinely believe we can and should EMBRACE the systems that birthed today’s status quo of failure, but not be touched by the anti-progressive mediocrity it carries? Or as always, we just want the easy way out?

The easy way says “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know” – well, the devil used to be an angel, he became the devil because there was no more anything better in him than an angel, so how can we be better than an angel?

The better way says – Ghana deserves a New 3rd Force. A force with energy, redefined patriotism, unfettered vision and daring creativity. .

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