Ghana’s New Political Climate: How Many Politicians Will Survive?

For Ghana to achieve total economic self-sufficiency, healthy growth and complete freedom will require a new level of approach to politics and commitment of each and everyone especially those who manage the affairs of the country.

What I mean here is from the grass-root to the highest level of government. Right through from Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings era through ex-President John Kuffour's administration to President John Evans Attah Mills reign, one can easily see that Politics in Ghana has gone through a systematic transformation.

People can see through Right and Wrong and can voice out their feelings on air and through the various media. This is a sign of practical development and uncensored Democracy. But there is more to be done to achieve absolute democracy and freedom as enshrined in our National Anthem.

It is now time for Ghanaians to turn away from the cheap old politics practised in the past and embrace this new facet of politics which empowers majority of the people at the moment. By cheap politics I mean the system where only cronies, party stalwarts and family members are the only ones allowed to control key and strategic positions in running of the affairs of the country even though it is clear that such people are brainless and unfit to even manage their own 'small' homes.

Democracy is a word all politicians use but very few seem to understand it. In Ghana today there seem to be surplus of everything on the market including people who think they know how to run the government.

In the past incoming governments have always condemned, criticised, alienated and even abrogated every positive thing done by their predecessors. It was therefore healthy and encouraging for once to see that President Mills commended the previous government. This is a sign of the political maturity we are beginning to see now in Ghanaian politics.

However, for President Mills' government to succeed and leave a good legacy for a future successor to be able to continue his good works, he needs to discourage within his government the kind of vicious politics practised in the past and also weed out all the rubbish, tainted and selfish elements in his government. He should always remember that just as in Business there is big steel and little steel, Politics has them too only the spelling is different.

If he is able to do this he will not only gain the full support of all Ghanaians but also his political opponents. It is not a denying fact that there are a lot of capable Ghanaians with the know-how both in Ghana and Abroad who have the nation at heart and willing to contribute and sacrifice their time and lives for the betterment of Ghana. It is also a fact that there are some political lightweights in his government therefore it is not too late to replace them with politically matured and competent people who can actually perform well to bring about the needed success that we all want.

Ghanaians are fed up with voting Politicians into power only to later sit in a Jury to try them. If there is a last Law to be passed in Ghana, then it is the one which will impeach or sue Politicians who persistently break their promises. Ghanaian Politicians should start acting now and prove they were voted into power to manage and not to always recycle their speeches and promises.

It is my hope that President Mills will work hard to sustain this encouraging economic climate which is now attracting more investors into the country. What is required now is less government in the emerging businesses coming into the country and more business in government.

Cheap political point-scoring should give way to constructive criticism, ideas sharing and cooperation. For if there is anyone out there who thinks cooperation is not essential to nation building then they should watch what happens to a wagon if one wheel comes off, and ask themselves without cooperation where would the AU, EU and the UN be now? Long live Ghana.

Douglas Chartey -(UK)