Deficit Of Good Governance And Leadership In Ghana

Ghana’s political leadership and governance has become a subject for intense discussion in various discourse on radio, televisions, print media and even international fora.Ghana almost fifty nine years after independence still has some people blaming their bad and poor performance on slavery and colonialism, which I emphatically disagree. Despite these two historical facts of slavery and colonialism which is no point worth argument.

Ghana’s development remains a mystery, judging from the various resources which ought to make our country rich and powerful in the continent and even beyond Ghana is endowed with sufficient resources is constrain of huge difficulties hence the paradox; “the richest of resources yet the poorest in terms of living standard, unstable electricity, high unemployment rate, poor health facilities, unpaid allowances and high public dept. The political history having been checkered with military coups has suffered from instability. Ghana has seen a new face since 1992 when it was ushered into a democratic dispensation.

The emergence of democracy has brought peace and praise but very little about the development of the standard of living of the ordinary people. Democracy which many believe as forerunner of development is now used as an instrument for amassing wealth by the privilege few in the society while majority of the people wallow in abject poverty. Ghana has been ravaged by poor leadership and governance deficit raising questions on how the people can enjoy fully from the natural resources endowed to them by the creator.

Deficit of good governance and leadership has often be a bane of Ghana’s development Governance refers to the exercise of political power to manage a nation’s affair. Governance in simple term could also mean the use of political power to manage the country social and economic resources to the benefit of the citizens and development. For development to shoot up there should be an existence of effective state, mobilized civil societies and productive private sectors.

It is of no doubt that Ghana has all these factors; effectiveness of the state which is to ensure a democratic and legal environment for fair distribution of resources. We have a mobilized civil society such as the Center for Democratic Governance (CDD), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), IMANI Ghana and many others to facilitate political and social interactions and also foster societal stability and cohesion.

If there exist all these factors then there is a clear indication that the bane of Ghana development is the deficit of good governance and leadership. Corruption; this has been a major challenge affecting good governance in Ghana, though this is a universal phenomenon but the rate of corruption in Ghana on the ascendancy. GYEDA, SADA ISOFOTONE, NSS scandal and the recent metamorphism of $3.6m to $9.9m to mention few.

The effect of corruption is commonly regarded as negative for all nations especially developing countries like ours. Corruption promotes economic inefficiency, distortion of development and misallocation of resources for the desire people.it widens the gap between the poor and rich. The law of social contract is distorted since these corrupt leaders find a way to perpetuate themselves in power.

Our corrupt leaders embezzle funds to be used cater for the poor, provide shelter and improve upon the living condition. Concomitantly the institutions established to oversee expose and punish this corrupt official are sometimes involve in this evil act. Who watches over the watchman? Corruption continues to loom in Ghana’s government because there is no distinction between institutions and actors.

This has created a major deficit in the governance and leadership in Ghana inhabiting development Lack of strong and effective centralized Bureaucratic system; it is worth knowing that the lessons emerging from most developed nations are as a result of effective central bureaucracy.

These states have centralized administration that are cohesive with strict recruitment procedures relatively less corrupt and less focused on bribes. Ghana lacks the discipline and skilled central administration which is inseparable to the implementation of the visions and plans of national development.

People are recruited into the civil service based on their political affiliations and not their qualification and competent. Appointment of various directors and commissioners based on partiality and change in government will not enhance continuity in the execution of long term development plan.

Partisan politics in development agendas has being a major setback for the country. Governance and leadership should be focused on long term development goals devoid of partial commitment as a result of one party taken commendation as initiators and executors of such policies. Politics and power should not be used as a vocation as the only means by which to gain private wealth. Public goods should be used for the interest of the people and not partisan and individual interest.

Inadequate statesmen are also a deficit of good governance and leadership in Ghana. Ghana has lagged behind in terms of leaders that can foster unity between its citizens. Political parties, families and ethnic group are often given preferential treatment. With this enviable resources Ghana would be a better place with good governance and leadership style.

Bad governance and leadership in Ghana may not be mainly a problem of ignorance or lack of infrastructural capacity but because the ruling class including people in and outside government are motivated by objectives that have little to do with the common good of the tax payer and the ordinary citizen. If pragmatic steps are not taken, Ghana will still face challenges that have existed before and after attaining independence. Political predators must be shown the exit. God help our homeland Ghana Sarpong Nana Akwasi [email protected]