The Mantra, “One Day the Tables Will Turn”: A Breeding Recipe for Political Instability

In the run-up to the 2024 elections, "ORAL" was one of the NDC’s key campaign promises. It appears that the pledge to recover looted funds from former politicians resonated with the electorate. By the end of the campaign, the then-ruling party—the NPP—was left scrambling to recover from a crushing defeat. Amidst the intense momentum behind ORAL, the NPP formulated a single response: "One day, the tables will turn." In this article, I will reveal the true philosophy behind this mantra and explain why this threat poses a danger to our democracy.

The only way to hold politicians accountable in a democratic country is through the regular transfer of power via elections. A change in government should be followed by an audit of the previous administration's tenure, thus scrutinizing the very actions that led to their ousting. In other words, the regular rotation of power is a fundamental principle of democracy. But what happens when the political class loses interest in holding one another accountable after a transfer of power, and opts instead to shield each other out of fear of constitutional reprisals? The table will simply translate to: “Do not hold me accountable today, so that when it comes to my turn, I will also not hold you accountable!!!”

Naturally, this has severe consequences for various sectors of the country. Because under the mantra, they will seek to protect one another, so that accountability fails to materialize when the tables turn. Beyond the stalling of infrastructure and economic development, many things in the country will go awry. The greatest danger concerns long-term political stability, a situation stemming from a lack of trust in the political class.

If the tables turn repeatedly without citizens experiencing improvements in their lives, just because the political class is in cahoots in looting national resources, national security will be jeopardized. Those who are quick to resort to this mantra should be aware of this danger. Distrust in the political system is the sole foundation upon which this mantra rests. A wise man once said that history tends to repeat itself. However, certain narratives associated with poverty, violence, and stagnant development must be halted immediately. This is precisely the path being pursued by the ruling NDC and the EOCO. In this context, EOCO must be urged to hold accountable any NDC officials who also squander the nation's funds. Doing so will surely silence the cynics and serve as proof that accountability is not an act of political persecution.

Ultimately, a nation striving for the prosperity and development of its citizens has no use for threatening mantras. A mantra aimed at stifling accountability and stoking fear merely fuels political instability.

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