What is wrong?

It is amazing how the government in power always trusts the various state institutions but do not trust these same institutions when they are in the opposition.

A number of institutions such as the police, the military, the Electoral Commission, the judicial service among others have received many criticisms from politicians, especially those in the opposition.

In 2012, the NDC had so much confidence and trust in the police, the military, and even the electoral commission. The opposition party then which was the NPP, had no trust in these institutions. This changed when the NPP assumed power in 2017. I do not know what these institutions did differently but they began to have trust in them, but then again the opposition NDC began to also express dissatisfaction with these institutions.

The same NDC which believed the Electoral Commission did a good work in 2012 now believes that the Electoral Commission is not doing a good work in 2020 whilst the NPP which discredited the Electoral commission in 2012 for not being fair, is now showering praises on the Electoral Commission for being fair.

The question on my mind now is, does it mean that such institutions are not independent as we are made to believe?

Is it that the party in government uses these institutions to carry out their agenda? Is it the thought of those in opposition that, the sitting government uses the institutions for their advantage?

Are there systems in place to make sure that such institutions are not manipulated by the “big men”?

Are we secure in this country with such mistrust among the ruling class?

I believe that it is time we look into such matters and begin to find a lasting solution to these issues. If we do not deal with these issues now and we allow the cracks and mistrust to deepen, then, we will one day wake up and there will be no Ghana.

One solution I would recommend is creating a system that will appoint the heads of such institutions rather than they being appointed by the president. The challenge is, if the president is the one appointing you, then you may have to do his bidding.

This calls for national deliberation.

God bless our homeland Ghana.