Multi Party Politics, National Unity And Youth Development In Ghana

On the 1ST of July 1960,Ghana our beloved country completely weaned itself from the British crown and political power was totally vested in the people. There is no moment that brings so much freedom,respect and dignity to the citizens of a state than the restoration to them,the right to exercise final political power and for that matter determine who should be the head of the management of the affairs of the state and of those who will represent them in government.

These are of course,the very things that makes Democracy the preferred system of Government. It is also true that Multi Party politics is an indispensable component of the Democratic culture. This, notwithstanding, the activities of political parties and some politicians in Ghana since returning to constitutional rule in 1992 have resulted in some disturbing situations that ought to be looked at critically by all well meaning Ghanaians primarily, because of the implications they have for National Unity and also efforts at preparing young people for leadership and other important roles.

Growing up in a little village in the Eastern region as a child in the late 1970s and early 1980s was a moment I will always consider the Golden period of my youth, as far as national unity is concerned.

I still remember with so much nostalgia, the oneness with which all children, who interestingly came from almost all the ethnic groups in Ghana, went about our daily activities, be it academic,sports,farm work and recreation, especially in the night when we all had to gather around the elderly to savour in the oral traditions,mythologies and other stories of the land.

The sense of oneness was even more felt as we lined up along the only road,dusty and rugged or muddy and bumpy, depending on the season , that passed through the village to welcome a Government official or as we are carried in the trailer of a tractor to attend inter- schools cultural festival or sit the common entrance in a nearby town.

The elderly were even more united, and I still remember with astonishment how they quickly got together to do communal work at the invitation of the head of the village(odikro).

The story of this village epitomizes the strong sense of unity that existed among Ghananians prior to returning to constitutional rule in 1992. Natives of the various communities had no problem in giving out lands to settlers for different purposes.They easily entered into joint economic ventures and contracted inter ethnic marriages without looking over their shoulders.People did not necessarily have to be natives of a place before they could occupy key positions in state own enterprises or the local Government of a particular area.Indeed there was so much trust and respect for each other.

What is intriguing is that, these situations prevailed at a time that the Nation was under military dictatorship but that is not to say that military regimes offer more favorable conditions for National Unity and should therefore be chosen over constitutional rule.

There is no doubt that multi party Democracy is the way to go but the problem is the disappointing manner in which some of our politicians have conducted themselves so far. And these are mostly politicians who misconstrue party politics as a means to economic gain and not as an opportunity to serve the people.

In pursuance of such ambitions ,they have resorted to palpable lies, insults, acrimonious exchanges,mischief,diabolical and divisive tactics and all manner of ills to divide the people in all spheres of life, so that they can easily have their way.

They have also succeeded in manipulating the various institutions to serve their interest.They have for instance succeeded in getting many State institutions in putting their parochial partisan interest before the national interest.The mass media has become more partisan in the dessermination of information,the once revered chieftaincy institution,sporting clubs and even the entertainment industry have not been spared by these politicians.

The results is a Nation characterized by greed,self-centeredness,suspicion, mistrust , hypocrisy and utter disregard for age and authority.

Perhaps the category of Ghanaians who have suffered the most devastating impacts of the activities of such politicians is the youth.

In the first place because the youth are active listeners of discussions in the mass media and in recent times, have become active users of social media, they tend to be mis-educated politically by the exchanges and ill tactics of these politicians.Indeed, they are been compelled by the present circumstances in which they find themselves to accept a sub political culture of lies, insults, intolerance, malice, mischief, and divisive tactics and acrimonious exchanges in the mass media etc as a way of doing party politics.

What is even more worrying is the fast rate at which they are been socialized into these culture with some of them becoming even more dangerous in the use of these ills than their 'teachers'.

The implication of these state of affairs is obvious.As far as leadership succession is concerned,one wonders whether men and women of integrity will be available to steer the affairs of the state in the not too distant future.

Moreover many young people are abandoning their talents, skills and professions for so-called lucrative opportunities in Politics because of the impression been created, that one of the quick and easy ways to economic gains is party politics. One can imagine the implications of this for the National economy in years to come.

More importantly, this kind of politics is a threat to the very existence of the Nation.One can no longer speak of the same level of unity that existed in Ghana prior to returning to constitutional rule in 1992.

Ghanaians,right from childhood are bombarded with talks on who belongs to a different tribe,ethnic group,religion,political party and such other groupings with the result that children no longer grow up with the same sense of unity as was the case in the 1970s and 1980s.

The fear is, if things should continue this way we will eventually have a generation of Ghanaians who cannot keep the peace and stability of the Nation.It is therefore imperative that leaders of the Nation collectively take a decision and adopt measures that will bring decency into the Ghanaian politics and to serve as a guide to the future leaders of the Nation,namely the youth.

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