Is Democracy Really Meant For Africa?

My heart bleeds for Egypt. Hell no!!!!!. This can't be happening. Egypt is now in chaos. Lawlessness has replaced a once industrious, tourist- bound, beautiful, soccer-loving and peaceful Egypt. The current situation in Egypt is nothing more than a nation of confused people. What does Egyptians really want? When millions of Egyptians stormed the Tahir Square demanding the resignation of Hosny Mubarak as president, it was abundantly clear that, the people of Egypt were simply tired of military dictatorship. Even the military denounced it's commander in chief (Hosny Mubarak) forcing him out of office as president. Democracy!!! Democracy!!! Democracy!!! became the order of the day. Egyptians and even the military wanted to breath, bath, sing, dance, eat and s**t democracy.

Living in a country where even the opinion of the drunk must be considered before a decision is arrived at concerning the future and destiny of Egypt. The military acted as referee in an open election, Mohammed Mursi of the muslin brotherhood emerged as winner of a democratically held elections. Egypt was expected to be back on track. Interestingly, our brothers up north, couldn't cope with the very democracy they had laboured for. To some, democracy had given the new president Mursi even more powers than his dictatorial predecessor Mubarak.

Then came the slogans; Mursi must go, to hell with the brotherhood, the revolution must work and a host of other slogans aimed at getting rid of a democratically elected president unconstitutionally. Once again, they re-visited Tahir square to end abruptly Mursi's rule as president, using the very venue they had used to end the country's era of military dictatorship to end a new order of multi party democracy. Irony, isn't it? Once again, the referee intervened, placed the democratically elected president under house arrest and yet started another revolution.

This really brings to mind,is democracy really meant for Africa and Africans? Is democracy of any value to Africa's quest to achieving development? Is democracy the only option to military dictatorship? Is democracy being forced on Africans by the west? Is it a system we simply fail to comprehend or democracy was simply not meant for us? Are we trying to blindly copy a ritual of the west without considering the nitty-gritty of democracy?

Sincerely, although we may argue that most African countries are in their infantile stages with respect to practicing democracy, the system has woefully been practiced and accepted by African's in general. Classical exceptions like Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Botswana even have it's own related problems. In Ghana's case, it requires the entire nation to pray and fast for PEACE with barely a year to elections. Numerous peace campaigns are organised with huge sums of money before a single election is held. Must we continue to practise a system we are not happy with?

Preaching virtue and practising vice is not only hypocritical but totally evil. Why must we pretend as a people who love democracy yet refuses to play by the rules of the game. Which African country haven't witnessed an infinitesimal form of violence in it's election? America, UK, France, Norway, Italy, Australia, Spain and other european countries all hold elections but hardly do we hear of related acts of violence before, during and after the elections. So why can't we in Africa do same? Yes, our democracy can be labelled as in its infantile stage, what about south American and Asian countries whose democracy are as young as ours yet continue to have peaceful elections year after year?

Before colonization, Africans were ruled by Kings, Queens and warriors yet the political system was stable. If the white man's democracy can't help us, we should simply let it go. The kind of democracy we are practising is totally disgraceful. Other countries have developed through democracy and if we really want to emulate them then we must practice real and proper democracy and abolish this kind of backyard democracy we continue to tickle ourselves with.

Africa and Africans need a new breed of democracy where one doesn't need to be a party card holder before getting a job. A democracy where keepers and stewards of public toilets and other facilities will not be sacked when a new party is voted into power. A democracy where real engineers will be awarded road contracts instead of party foot soldiers, serial callers, executives and cronies.

Africa needs a democracy where state institutions will be independent without unnecessary intrusion and interference by government. A democracy where there will be bread and butter for the poor irrespective of political affiliations. A democracy where ethnic and tribal sentiments will not determine the kind and type of job one is offered.

A democracy where the states resources will not be raped, looted, smuggled and shared among the political archbishops, cardinals and popes. A democracy where politicians will have their accounts at GCB instead of hiding their loot in banks miles away in Switzerland. A democracy that can bring absolute positive change where children in Africa will not die from primitive and antiquated disease like malaria and cholera. A democracy that will erase malnutrition and hunger from Africa.

Real and absolute democracy must come with real change. A monumental change that affects both the poor and rich in a positive manner and even affect the generations yet unborn. This type of democracy we are practising stinks, destroys the spirit of a continent and further renders it's unborn generations eternally poor and hopeless. Even if we are drunk, the reality that we are destroying our continent awaits us should drunkenness leave us. Africa is indeed sick and it requires a complete overhaul of it's democratic procedures to achieve the change it seeks.

A nation and continent calls for duty now!!!!!!!
God bless our homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.