Our elders have stated that when a crocodile comes out from the river to inform you that the alligator is sick, it’s to consider it. This sounds easy however it’s deep.
Within the context of our electoral politics, the above adage reveals lots of fact buried beneath the actual intention of what Joseph Gobble describes as propaganda; a stupendous lie repeated with zeal ultimately positive aspects credibility. However that is at all times not the case.
The resignation of Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen from the New Patriotic Celebration (NPP), a celebration he performed a important function in its formation and financing, ought to name for deeper reflection on many issues that aren’t going properly in our nation. Alan has revealed some, together with the highly effective finance minister. Who’re we to disbelieve?
Past that’s the rising dissipation of inside democracy in our political events, though all political events function inside a clearly outlined authorized framework. Research counsel that democracy inside political events has a bearing with democracy inside the wider Ghanaian society given how nationwide governance is organised. No one ought to, subsequently, rejoice when a serious political celebration is saddled with inside democratic challenges.
Issues value discussing
The speak of whether or not an unbiased candidate has the potential of inflicting the defeat of the mom political celebration in an election is value discussing however ought to actually be the least among the many majors. The reply is combined. A sitting Vice-President of Jerry John Rawlings served as a operating mate to John Agyekum Kufuor, it didn’t result in the defeat of the Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1996. However analysis additionally means that among the many elements that led to the defeat of the NDC in 2000 included the breakaway group that shaped the Nationwide Reform Celebration, and lack of inside democracy.
Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings who evidently had the help of her husband J.J. Rawlings left the NDC, and regardless of criticism from the Rawlings’, the NDC gained the 2012 election. The NPP sacked its nationwide Chairman and Normal Secretary within the lead as much as the 2016 election on the time the celebration may finest be described as internally chaotic and but the NPP gained with the widest margin in that election. The record goes on. In impact, the elements that decide electoral fortunes are many, numerous and dynamic and solely time may give credibility to present theories or in any other case.
Because of this we must always focus extra on the issues that may have a wider affect on all of us when resignations, defections and breakaways happen.
One other factor is the legislation. Everyone seems to be citing the legislation as both not working, working in a tilted method or manipulated. The legislation argument doesn’t wash as a result of it’s not every thing lawfully finished that’s proper.
Apartheid was executed lawfully and does that make it proper? Our leaders ought to, subsequently, know that persons are rational and might inform when the legislation is used diabolically. The hazard is within the recommendation of Boakye Agyarko who cautions that the resignation of many others might solely take the type of not voting for his or her political celebration on the Election Day. For those who use the legislation to kick out folks and that results in the defeat of a political celebration that might have solved the issues of Ghana, you could have finished the best disservice to the nation.
Partisan Traces/Cooperation
The polarisation alongside partisan traces is equally disturbing. A number one member of the Conference Individuals’s Celebration (CPP), Kwame Jantuah, requested a query on a tv present lately that I consider your reply will not be completely different from mine. He requested, as we speak if two folks desire a job within the public sector in Ghana, and one goes within the title of NPP/NPP colors and one other within the title of Ghana/Ghana flag, which one stands a greater probability? NPP is barely used right here conveniently as a result of it’s the celebration in energy.
Whereas an unbiased candidate might not win the 2024 election, the discourse on a serious third drive to interrupt the NPP/NDC duopoly which is the main causal issue of the division amongst Ghanaians, is important. The decision from Hon. Alan Kyerematen on card-bearing members of political events to remain and vote for his or her respective events’ parliamentary candidates and select a presidential candidate who can ship is so as. However suffice it to say that, that presidential candidate ought to solely be thought-about topic to the pending unveiling of insurance policies by all others.
Up to now Mr Kyerematen and the management of the NPP have demonstrated maturity by recognising their respective optimistic sides and coping with the challenges in a matured method devoid of insults. The followers should study the identical and know that competitors and cooperation are bedfellows in politics.
As we put together for the polls in 2024, many extra defections, resignations and emergence of unbiased candidates are inevitable. Allow us to accommodate all in our collective quest to construct a democratic society.
The author is a Lecturer, Division of Political Science, College of Schooling, Winneba