Significance of Debate for Presidential Aspirants in Ghana in 2024

Our motherland, Ghana, embraces politics in a framework of a presidential representative democracy republic. Hence, the president of Ghana is both head of State and head of Government. And he is also Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. It, therefore, stands to reason that the president of Ghana becomes the most powerful person in the nation.

Our motherland has encountered significant external pressures (Covid-19, Russia/Ukraine war, etc.) that have exacerbated the existing fiscal and debt vulnerabilities. These circumstances have resulted in a constrained access to international markets. Furthermore, these circumstances have limited domestic financial options, and have further increased reliance on monetary measures to support government expenditures.

Ghana is now 67 years old, but unfortunately, has not much to show for it. Notably, aside from other unavoidable external/international circumstances and pressures, Ghana has been saddled with leaders who were visionless, corrupt, incompetent, selfish and self-centered. In fact, bribery and corruption of public and/or government officials who have been decision makers of our nation, have raised serious moral and political concerns because both of them (bribery, corruption) have cut deep into the social fabric of development. Corruption has had a significant negative impact on the economy and society overall. It has weakened the confidence of the people in our democratic institutions and processes in extreme circumstances.

Corruption has affected good governance, competitive markets, and healthy public fiscal management.

Fellow Citizens, Ghana would elect and hire a president on 7^th December, 2024. We should vote for the leader who would serve the best interests of the people and who possesses goals greater than achieving his parochial interest. Ghana should vote for the leader that is willing to accept responsibility and the ability to inspire our citizens. He must exhibit honesty, love for his heritage, vision, intellect, competence, incorruptibility, and above all, he should be a transformational leader. To choose the leader from a mass of aspirants is not very easy. The only reliable and efficient way for the electorate in Ghana to assess and evaluate a candidate for the presidency, is through a Debate. A debate constitutes formal discussions on particular topics of interest in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.

In Ghana topics of interest may include development, bribery and corruption, national debt, infrastructure, to mention just a few.

According to the Bible, Revised Version (Proverbs 25:9), debate refers to the settling of a difficulty with a neighbor.. It argues for and shows the advantage of private, peaceable settlement of difficulties. In this mentioned verse, the teaching is when one has a serious difference with another, he is to confront (“debate”) the matter with the neighbor and not simply talk to others behind his back. This is essentially Jesus' teaching. Socratic debate, named after the classical Greek philosopher Socrates, is a form of inquiry and debate between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. It is a dialectical method, often involving an oppositional discussion in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against the defense of another.

Having practical understanding as to how in general the Socratic method was used to educe truth and fact, one can easily see that the Jews and even the Son of God himself often used this form of logical argumentation. A key rendering in the translations is something to the effect, "Jesus answered." The "answer" often involved the debate format, the dialogue and context being the determining and defining factor.

The art of debate has shaped leaders, thinkers, and society at large. By embracing debate, individuals can become more adept at navigating complex issues and engaging with diverse perspectives, ultimately contributing to a more informed and understanding world.

Debates are so critical to a healthy democracy that they should be made essentially mandatory for candidates.

If campaigns keep dodging debates, don’t give them a choice!

I SHALL RETURN.
God bless our Homeland Ghana and make us great and strong!

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eur Ing. Th. Sarkodie-Gyan, D.Sc., VDI, CEng, FInstMC

Retired Tenured Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering

College of Engineering
University of Texas, USA
Email: [email protected]