Why I Choose The Non-Partisan Fate!

Politics is said to be defined as “who gets what? When and How?”. In our part of the world (Africa) politics is ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives. We eat and drink politics daily, our societies are characterized with a diversity of interests, preferences, values and ideas and each of these directly or indirectly involve the use of scarce resources, invariably bringing politics at a center stage.

The fortunes of Ghana looked brighter in our days of independence than it may be today, and what makes the difference is the type of politics that has taken place in our country since independence till date. Akin to a very popular adage, too much of everything is said to be bad, gradually, the blood of partisan politics that runs through a large cross section of the Ghanaian populace is becoming thicker than the blood of their love, passion and zeal for the nation, Ghana.

I have followed with keen interest on various social media platforms on how young people of this great nation discuss national issues and one emphatic conclusion is that partisan politics is driving this country into a ditch. Objectivity has become so scarce in our discourse of national issues.

Very pathetic it is when passionate and visionary minds are narrowed and condemned through abusive words anytime they avail themselves to serve, primarily because they don't reflect the interest of an affiliation. There is a need we liberate ourselves from the addiction of partisan politics because abundance of it has led us to spend so much time contemplating and condemning one another than fighting for our collective progress as a nation. Partisan politics in Ghana is mostly manifested in politics of the belly and this turn to be very destructive and the end result is the satisfaction of nepotistic cravings.

The youth aggressiveness, especially some student leaders and individuals in respective intellectual establishments and unions (GUPS,USAG,PUSAG, GRASSAG, NUGS etc) to sacrifice anything just to see their political parties to either retain power or win power when in opposition is unholy and questionable. Their zeal stretches from a hidden agenda of securing jobs or elevating their lives through appointment etc when their political parties get hold of the string of power.I have pledged to be non-partisan and move further away from diabolic partisan interest because Ghana is bigger than my political party.

I have chosen the non-partisan fate because I have a duty to my country, not my political party. I owe my country a great service than my political party. We are unhurriedly burying this country onto the grave of partisan politics. It is surprising that some young intellectuals of this country would wish that the government fails in every sector of the economy and others wish for more cracks in the opposition forgetting that a fight between two grasshoppers is a joy to the crow; we have a common enemy called poverty, emanating from our mindset and greatly exhibited in our actions, and that is what we must collectively tackle and not wishing each other doom because of partisan politics.

We live in a country where leaders, from basic root of our homes, religious and non-religious organizations, government and private business institutions, media and to some extent, NGOs address issues based on alligience to a partisan group, giving no or less priviledge to minds ready to stimulate growth and progress. Our generation faces some of the intense problems to be ever encountered in the world; and partisan politics will deepen our woes. Partisan politics may not permit one to objectively analyze issues of national interest and this is where the danger is.

Partisan politics often times give birth to unholy insults and critics and in extreme cases violence. We the young ones must say no to partisan politics. We shouldn’t lose sight of the antelope (Ghana) for a squirrel (Political parties).

Let’s come together and build our country for posterity. Alas I am not preaching against joining a political party but we must do that based on ideologies and policies geared towards national progress and not on the bases of ethnicity and partisanship. When this is done, our politicians will begin to think. Some of us have made up our minds, whether rain or shine, we will support a particular political party till death, irrespective of how weak it's governance, giving politicians a guarantee to gamble with our fate as well as unborn generation's fate. The more we begin to think that we can make a living and accomplish our ambitions without touching on partisan politics, then partisan politics will begin to diminish.

We will begin to join respective parties on the basis of ideologies and convictions, eventually paving way to national progress. Arise Ghana youth for your country. The nation demands your devotion. Lets us all unite to uphold her, and make here great and strong. We are all Involved 3×...In building our motherland. Ghana needs my devotion to make her great and strong among nations In Africa and beyond and not a devotion to my affiliation and caucus Interest. There is the need to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. God bless us! We still looking Optimistically Forward because we are not children of a lesser god.

Ntenhene Felix
(KNUST, [email protected])
E.K.D.Oppong
(UCC, [email protected])