Parliamentary Elections in the Shama Constituency; Another Case of a Choice of a Lesser Evil?

The U. S presidential elections brought with it new conspiracies, concepts and theories. Most notably and important for this piece, it was conceived that the world’s most powerful country and perhaps the first country to have a dream has been handed with two evils. And since choosing they must it became conclusive that the lesser of the two must be chosen.

Hillary was touted the lesser but in the end their most devilish and worst nightmare Trump, triumphed.

It's just a day to the December 7^th elections and with not much to show, as a discerning floating voter in the Shama constituency you are left to wonder if we face the same dilemma. The choice of the lesser of four evils.

By all means know that this is contextual. I am also writing within the tenets of effective and efficient MP-Constituent relations and a move beyond the traditionally known approach to parliamentary affairs. MP-Constituent relations beyond hinging on the principle of public service is also a constitutional mandate and involves communicating with constituents, learning about their concerns and, as possible and where appropriate, helping to solve their problems. It encompasses a broad range of activities that can be adapted to fit a legislator’s budget, time and level of experience. Everything from conducting public forums and issuing newsletters, to visiting with a constituent during a trip to the local market, to intervening on behalf of a constituent before a government agency all represent effective constituent relations strategy.

MPs are asked to serve as intermediaries between citizens and the government agencies that among other things dispense retirement benefits, educational grants and opportunities, and in some instances, jobs, and that regulate how people conduct their economic activities.

They are also required to define their goals, establish objectives based on those goals, and determine priorities. As they work for the interests of underrepresented groups within the district, develops sustainable relationship with potential voters or supporters, develops relationship with specific interest groups, become spokesperson on a specific issue that is important to constituents, expedite the implementation of specific laws and as well work for the interests of the people who voted for them.

According to UNDP’s Global Parliamentary Report, ‘constituency service covers a huge range of activities that broadly encompasses the following:

• Support to individuals – which ranges from helping to find work or opportunities, to more clientelistic patterns of behaviour designed to buy support;
• Grievance-chasing – in which citizens have a particular problem with a government service, welfare entitlement or bureaucracy, with the MP acting to help resolve such problems;
• Policy responsiveness – in which voters try to seek or to influence an MPs opinion on particular issues, especially votes in parliament;
• Project work – in which politicians seek funds for the development of the area or the promotion of local economy, with MPs using their position to secure government funding.

For a simple understanding I quote Blerim VELA, an International Consultant and say that ‘‘the general model of Parliament - constituency relations consists of two elements: the relationship between the Member of the Parliament and their constituencies; and the relationship between the people and the Legislature.’’

Paraphrasing an excerpt from Associate Professor Staffan I. Lindberg’s work, ‘good’ MPs who have invested in citizen-education and increased the amount of information available to constituents, feel that it has paid off and increased the importance of their legislative activities in the eyes of their constituents.

Indeed, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Domwini Dabre Kuupole has said, outreach programmes are critical to the sustenance of the nation’s Parliamentary democracy

Today MPs have developed innovative ways to engage with constituents and maintain effective relations. In Trinidad and Tobago MPs have taken a proactive approach in engaging with constituents through organization capacity building and self-help trainings that target diverse groups in the constituency. Some have also established transparent and well-structured scholarships with their own funds.

Majority of MPs now go beyond traditional tools in communicating with constituents. Several MPs have their own Facebook/webpage about the work done in the constituency. Others have publications shaped as a report to constituents and is distributed widely among members of the constituency.

MPs now undertake a proactive and innovative approach in engaging with constituents through organization of social events, trainings and outreach activities that target diverse groups in the constituency. Additionally, they have established constituency offices independent of party offices that have opinion/complaints box installed in the premises. Through a predetermined questionnaire on feedback, citizens could express their satisfaction with the quality of services received at the constituency office. Such a novel approach is long overdue in the Shama Constituency

In Albania, legislators use public forums to engage citizens in dialogue about a wide range of issues.

In Macedonia, political parties, whose representatives in the legislature are elected through a party list proportional representation system, understand that constituent relations work is an important responsibility, and key to whether citizens have a positive perception of them. They have therefore established independent constituency offices for their elected legislators

In Mexico, Patricia Flores, former Federal legislator and current state legislator from the Mexican state of Mexico, uses a van as a “mobile office” to meet with constituents throughout her district. On market day, she parks the van next to the market area and meets with constituents at a table set up outside the back of the van. While there she collects constituent contact information for her monthly newsletter and records their concerns, interests, or demands. She usually finds that most requests do not pertain to her mandate, so she directs them to the appropriate government agency.

In Slovakia, legislators have set aside a day a week to conduct constituent outreach.

In Kosovo some legislators believe it is important to separate their position within the party from their job as members of parliament and have established or rented separate constituency offices.

In South Africa individual legislators have newsletters as a way of communicating with constituents. A legislator in Yemen has combined his public speaking skills with his knowledge of radio media to broadcasts radio program a few weeks before every constituency visit. By that he shares details of the visit, including the dates, where he would be, and public events he planned to hold.

In Malawi, one legislator holds “Days of Social Encounter” eight times a year in different locations within his constituency. The legislator invites traditional leaders, religious leaders, and the general public for traditional dances, football, food and informal public meetings. This allows the legislator to interact with his constituents in a fun, relaxed context yet still hear the concerns of the people and maintain contact with important local leaders.

To educate her constituents about HIV/AIDS and to learn about their biggest health concerns, Representative Jumoke Okoya-Thomas organizes a health fair in her district in Lagos, Nigeria.

In Macedonia, MPs facilitate the visits of students from their constituency to parliament house for by bussing them for a day of education about the parliament, how it functions, and what parliaments can do for them. Some MPs interested in acquiring specialized or expert information from a given constituency have even formed independent advisory committees.

Since unemployment and the request for jobs often comes to legislators, a number of legislators in a variety of countries have helped link constituents seeking employment to companies and other entities needing to hire new employees. They have done so through job fairs which empowers constituents, assisting employers, and helping to stimulate the local economy. Some even host contests for young students for summer work, or connecting them with job training centres as ways of getting young people interested in the party and politics more generally, while helping them gain professional experience.

Mr Simon Patrice Morin, legislator from Indonesia, developed detailed brochure to introduce himself and his district office to constituents. It folds neatly into a convenient tri-fold size, and includes his photo, a concise biography, office contact information, and a map of his district.

Where and when it has become impossible to hire staff for constituency work, supporters are asked to volunteer their time. In Yemen, some legislators recruit the assistance of supporters they know well through elections or other community work to help liaise with constituents. The supporters, who volunteer their time, share updates about the community; help plan constituency visits, and meet with constituents. In Cambodia, “Constituency Volunteers” (CVs), whom legislators identify and train with the assistance of local NGOs, help organize public meetings, record constituent requests, and stay in touch with constituents about the status of their requests. Some MPs have created a student “internship” program in their constituency.

In Bosnia constituents needs are tracked electronically either as a web-based or hosted on a local computer. Legislators and their staff also keep a good record of efforts made to help constituents. When someone enters the office, or meets with the legislator, access to documentation of who they were and why they came is vital, so that legislators and staff are not relying on their memories alone to resolve the situation later. In many countries, legislators rely on fact sheets and standard logbooks kept in chronological order to document constituent visits.

In many countries the Internet is changing the way politicians and political parties operate. The use of the World Wide Web to make homepages, produce political blogs, and solicit information from constituents is changing the ability of politicians to reach out to voters. The Internet is also changing the way voters interact with politicians. The Internet’s ability to alter the political landscape should not be underestimated. A personal homepage highlighting a representative’s accomplishments and vision for the district, and allowing for public feedback will prove increasingly critical to political success in the digital age. The website of Hon. Nderitu Muriithi, who represents the Laikipia West Constituency in Kenya, is an excellent model that conveys a positive message of transparency and commitment to his constituents. He provides clearly displayed contact information, photos, a list of public services, and detailed information regarding the use of Laikipia West Constituency Development Funds. Like all good websites, it is user friendly, interactive, and leaves room for the addition of materials as political and other circumstances change.

Most importantly these are not spontaneous activities, they are well-structured and documented. Like president Mahama said on Good Evening in Ghana sometime back, in campaigning you put out a program and you speak to the program. So I ask, what programs are our candidates speaking too if not from their belly or more decorously memories? The latter which by virtue of it being a Ghana one is short and easily forgets according to the president’s prescription.

The thing is peoples representation is not a joke as we being made to believe. It is a serious business requiring serious and innovative-minded people. But often times the devils are the ones who suffices.

To paraphrase Bernard Asubonteng, for now the interesting political conundrum I am trying to explore relates to: what is your vision for your constituency and the ideal candidate to be voted for? With both the insights and best practices shared is not obvious we have not had effective representation yet and it is likely we not have it this time around too? Is it not obvious we have not enjoyed from the best MP-Constituent Relations has to offer?

‘Can we say with pride and certainty that the candidates will speak and act selflessly on our behalf in parliament? Better yet, are the candidates unassumingly approachable persons with no traces of elitism whose primary concern(s) is to strive for what is best for the constituency? Needless to say, is an effective activist and performer known for taking independent policy positions in an effort to support and promote our interests?

For me all the candidates are a sham, undemocratic and by these are evil we have unleashed upon ourselves and we will one way or the other become their victims. All the candidates are in their own means are buying votes and thereby flouting the principles upon which a free and fair elections hinges. They are buying conscience. Some are rushing through projects and with others abusing incumbency with impunity and disgust.

They are all not engaging enough. Except the noise they are making around and the propaganda they are all spewing on air as well as their appearance on the two weird parliamentary encounters.

Apart from their mini rallies and campaign launches they have all fail to present electorates with their documented vision of representation. Kind of an MP-Constituent Relations blueprint specifying the policies they will support and champion, how they will be engaging their constituent and how they will use the various MPs funds. How do we then hold them accountable? Moreover with their pedigree and level of exposure don't they know any competent and serious minded business has a plan which is shared with investors and potential investors?

They are also totally not accessible and not making good of ICT yet I hear some of them talk about it relevance in education. Are they too blind to see the best practices from even within or they are simply limiting the space or are electronically illiterate or they simply don’t see the need for it?

Beyond the president and the leader of the biggest opposition party and the PPP presidential candidate we can talk of regional best practices such as the following although they need elevation and non-partisan approaches.

Think of Honourable Adjei Mensah, Hon. Okyere-Darko and Hon. Armah Kofi Buah.

The truth is no good and serious politicians will run for office without understanding the role of web and social media communication. Particularly basic ones like websites, and social media pages, excerpt the devils. Even the bearded mayor has tsentse.org and actively accessible on social media. With some of them holding live chats.

Even the likes of Raheal Appor and Okudjeto Ablakwa have websites. Zenator Rawlings is everywhere. Some even have gone as far as having a separate MPs office with staff and research assistants in place. Honourable Armah Kofi Buah is doing great and I am not surprised he is the regional campaign coordinator.

Shama constituency has come of age and I believe we need not only innovative but professional representation.

All the candidates know the essence of having websites for their businesses but not for their political pursuit’s right?

For me you are all the evils we have handed ourselves and whiles for the first time I won't pray for your judgement, I pray for your repentance, exorcism and the political discernment and consciousness of the people.

And until they show this leadership let it be known to them that whoever wins is evil. Only that we may not be able to tell the degree and extent of their devilishness. Shame on you all. Get it once and for all, those physical structures you are clinging to, are an insignificant avenue to connect with the people. People will also be at the helm of development and so ask yourself how they are all relating and transforming lives.

PS: A number of works were reviewed to support this write-up and all are duly acknowledged.