Ghana returned to the polls in 1992 when the late Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings accepted to change the military rule system to democracy. Ghana formed institutions to help propel this agenda and foster the development of politics in Ghana. Development, be it social or economic in any other way, is very crucial to the well-being of every nation, as it is the catalyst for sustainability.
The politicization of everything in the country by our leaders in Ghana has hindered our development. Falsehood and propaganda are presented as the truth and have stained the richness of growth, affecting our livelihoods.
Government politicization of projects done by them is a disturbing and observable phenomenon in the country today. The political debate between the two major political parties in the country: the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seems to be influencing the quality of works meant to propel the development of Ghana. Cronies from these two political parties incite the citizens against each other but citizens have been so oblivious to support them with loose talks and physical assault during and after elections.
The political leaders seem to love the hype and enjoy the benefits that result from this chaos caused by politics. The above point was proven when Hon. Saddique Abubakar Boniface was addressing Zongo Youth some time ago. He stated that politicians eat and drink together, so we should not fight for them. He made mention of a few politicians whose sibling belongs to the opposition party and made mention of his senior brother, Baba Karma. Let me spare you the list of well-known politicians in the country whose direct sibling is in the opposition party. Citizens pay tax, and whatever project is not done by Mahama or Akuffo-Addo but by the pockets of Ghanaians.
Everything in the country is now politicized, except the air we breathe. The politicization of things has led to chaos and turned friends into enemies. The development has retarded the growth of our very nation. This kind of political system puts the interest of ordinary citizens on the line. What I find difficult to understand is why our political parties politicize developmental projects and what has not been done by the other?
The government is responsible for developmental projects in the country, and the citizens must hold them accountable because it is the hard-earned money they use for these projects. We don’t have to beg, but it is our bona fide right to demand it. These leaders often design policies that are not in favour of the citizens wanting to overdo the opponents by using every trick to convince the citizens to support their ideas. These leaders practice kleptocracy, but instead of being guilty and accountable, they incite us against each other.
Politics is killing Ghana but we, as a people need to wake up from that. Long live Ghana and long live the leaders who are willing to implement policies devoid of ‘politricks’.
Photo Credit: The Guardian Nigeria News