Shaking the Foundations of our Nation's Democracy

Anas Aremeyaw Anas has done it again!!! Yes, just when most Ghanaians thought the “Tiger Eye” investigative team had gone to sleep for a while, they worked under the bed to rock the nation with what is considered to be the worst scandal to have hit the Judicial Service in the history of the nation. Obviously, chills went down the spines of many Ghanaians and many were left in shock upon hearing the news.

This video, yet to be premiered at the Accra International Conference Centre is set to shake the foundations of our nation’s democracy. I am however, much more concerned about the implications of this nerve racking exposé.

Has Oath taking become a mere formality in Ghana today? The oath taken by justices by which they swear entreats them to administer justice without respect to person, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all duties. Have we allowed the Judiciary all the independence they require for some members amongst them to weaken the Judicial Service by their inactions? Not too long ago, the Ghana Medical Association also embarked on a nationwide strike spanning a period of 3 weeks and I need not revisit old wounds by reminding my cherished readers of the devastating effects this had on our dear nation. The Labyrinthine Hippocratic Oath by which medical doctors in Ghana also swear before performing their duties has a very profound phrase, “The health and life of patients will be my first consideration.” One would then ask if they had this in mind when they embarked on this strike and also whether the oath still held any meaning for the medical profession in Ghana. We all for sure know that there are problems but why not stay in the consulting rooms and have your leadership negotiate? I think it is time that as a nation, we re-visit the ideals behind taking oaths and do our very best to uphold them.

The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama in his speech in the Parliament of Ghana on 11^th July, 2009 profoundly said that “Africa does not need men, it needs institutions.” I cannot tend to agree with him more. We are very good at making laws but very sluggish at their enforcements but I believe strongly that it is a step in the right direction that the prosecution process has began with the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Georgina Theodora Wood interdicting judges and other staff over the Anas video. Strengthened institutions in our society would only go a long way to ensure accountability and promote constitutionalism.

Lou Holtz stipulates that “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Our predominantly negative attitude as a people has caused us a great deal and this has creeped into some very delicate sections of our government machinery. It comes as no surprise that Justice John Ajet-Nassam, a High Court Judge, who freed Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the controversial Gh¢ 51 million judgement debt scandal has his name also put forward among the list of 34 judges. I am of the personal conviction that former President Jerry John Rawlings would be vindicated now when he famously said “I have heard they have released the Thief called Woyome.” Winston Churchill indeed could not have said it any better when he said that “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

The cups of some have certainly filled up, some as well spilling over sounding a word of warning to the many others that they are wherever they find themselves to serve the good people of Ghana and not to satisfy their whims and caprices. As long as we have breath, some of us will relentlessly help in the campaign to Name, Shame and Jail.