Did President Mahama Hear President Obama's Speech In Ghana At All?

I have no doubt that by now, the US embassy in Accra has reported to Washington that the US decision to send the two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees to Ghana was a big mistake and that a preponderant majority of the people who constitute an articulate public opinion -- including the biggest opposition party, the NPP -- have condemned the move.Now, the US can ignore Ghanaian public opinion and “tough it out”. Indeed, that is what the Ghana Government has probably told the US. This assurance would take the form of something like the following: “Let's lie low for now! We know our people. They will make noise for a while, but in a few days, they will forget all about it.”

That may be so indeed! But such a cynical attitude towards public opinion will eventually rebound on the heads of those who act on the basis of such an attitude. It will hurt relations between our two countries, for Ghanaians will come to suspect that the US has no respect for their opinions as a people, and that the US prefers to encourage Ghanaians' own Government to treat their opinions with contempt.

“Ghana has a strong leader who can take action even when public opinion is against what he's doing!” could be another message sent to Washington. It would, of course, sound like music in the ears of those who brokered the deal and got President Barack Obama to sign on to it.

But there is one thing wrong with that scenario: it goes against everything that President Obama said when he addressed the Ghanaian Parliament on 11 July 2009.

I was in the audience when President Obama was given a standing ovation for roundly condemning the rule of so-called “strong men” in Africa and advocating, instead, the strengthening of the institutions that can ensure the survival of democracy on our continent.

The President of the United States said:

QUOTE: “Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world

that sees only tragedy or a need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put

democracy on a firmer footing, with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. (Applause.) And by the way, can I say that for that the minority d`eserves as much credit as the majority. (Applause.) …

“This is a new moment of great promise. Only this time, we've learned that it will not be

giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future.Instead, it will be

you -- the men and women in Ghana's Parliament -- (Applause) -- the people you represent. It will be the young people brimming with talent and energy and hope who can claim the future that so many in previous generations never realized.

“Now, to realize that promise, we must first recognize the fundamental truth that you

have given life to in Ghana: Development depends on good governance.(Applause.) That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That's the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I've pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interests and America's interests. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of

perpetual aid that helps people scrape by -- it's whether we are partners in building the

capacity for transformational change. (Applause.)....

“....we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments. (Applause.)

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: Governments that respect the will of their

own people, that govern by consent and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are

more stable, and more successful than governments that do not. This is about more than just holding elections. It's also about what happens between elections. (Applause.)

“Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections,

are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to

create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves -- (Applause) -- or

if [the] police -- if [the]police can be bought off by drug traffickers. (Applause.)

No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the

top -- (applause) -- or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live

in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery.

(Applause.) That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end. (Applause.)

"In the 21st century, capable, reliable, and transparent institutionsare the key to success -- strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges -- (Applause); an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. (Applause.) Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people's everyday lives.

UNQUOTE

I want to tell President Obama that his advocacy of the strengthening of “parliaments which

check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard” has been flouted in Ghana,

on a matter of very serious concern to every Ghanaian citizen, and at the instance of Obama's own Government.. The Government of Ghana, aware of the national security implications of such

an act, has nevertheless accepted two ex-Guantanamo detainees with an Al Qaeda background,

for temporary settlement, without even telling our Parliament, let alone seek its approval of its decision to accept the two detainees.

As far as is known, no sounding out of public opinion was carried out, even though there are methods by which even top-secret proposals can be tested expertly before actual decisions are made on them. It appears as if our Government simply wasn't interested in preparing the Ghanaian public for the arrival of the Gitmo detainees. No wonder the public has reacted with something approaching paranoia, against the idea. Did our Government reckon with out fear of the way Al Qaeda has been attacking Mali? Of Boko Haram's activities in Nigeria and Al Shabbab's murderous forays into Kenya?

The behaviour of the Ghana Government towards Parliament in this instance is only a symptom of the general disregard which the Government exhibits towards that institution. A Government supporter has even gone to the extent of claiming that because we have an executive president, the President has no obligation to inform Parliament of what he does; in other words, to seek the ”advice and consent” of the legislative arm of government, as is done in the USA, although the US also has an executive president.

In Ghana, the executive consistently uses its Parliamentary Majority to brush

aside the reservations of the Minority on important financial issues – so much so that a harmful opinion is emerging in the country that our “Parliament is useless!”

Parliament is not the only institution in the country that is being sidelined. Simultaneously, the Ghana executive has been ignoring reports from one of our most crucial institutions -- the Office of the Auditor-General.

Furthermore, although no-one can say that our Electoral Commission – which needs to enjoy the absolute trust of all political parties in the country – currently commands the confidence of all the parties.

President Obama, your Government appears to enjoy cordial relations with our Government. Please use your influence to warn our Government to stop acting in a way that will weaken the

institutions that exist to ensure the operation of that governance about which

you so eloquently preached when you were in Ghana in July 2009.

For, indeed, you were right! Without strong institutions – especially a strong Parliament and a strong, enlightened public opinion – Ghana and other African countries that have experienced long years of totalitarian military rule, will breed a populace that is demoralised

and apathetic, unable to make any proper use of the largess that is donated to them by your

country and other donors.

Worse, because they have little knowledge of institutions that work independently of the executive,

they will become cynical and accept, in a docile manner, the notion that executive fiat is the norm in governance.

And that, truly, you will agree, would be a disaster of the first magnitude, Mr President. .