Since the introduction of the 1992 constitution which ushered the country into the fourth republic, many ordinary Ghanaians have developed strong interest in the governance of the country through democratic means and have therefore, become active participants in the electoral and governance processes.
Undoubtedly, the sustenance of our democracy for the last three decades does not only lend credence to the fact that Ghanaians have wholeheartedly embraced democracy as the means through which our dear country must be governed but also illustrates that indeed democracy has come to stay.
However, the principles of democracy stretch beyond organising periodic elections, ensuring the rule of law, and fundamental human rights among others which we mostly trumpet and use as the yardstick to measure the success of our democracy.
Responsible leadership is one of the cardinal pillars that underpins the sustenance of democracy, especially, in developing countries in the sub-region.
This is trite knowledge but unfortunately, it appears that little attention is paid to this aspect which is a right citizens must constantly enjoy in our budding democracy.
The kinds of political disturbances and instabilities we witnessed in the past as part of our history, were largely attributed to perceived corruption and irresponsible leadership.
Undoubtedly, it could be argued that the focus of leadership under the governments of past and successive political administrations in the last thirty years has allegedly been on how the party that formed the government could become so popular to win the next elections with slogans but not to demonstrate responsible sustainable leadership.
This perhaps explains why we don’t seem to have a national policy as a country which is binding on all elected governments with regards to how we want to develop as country with our destinies in our hands.
From all indications, our understanding of democratic governance appears to have been reduced to extreme partisanship which has permeated through the legislative and the executive arms of government in the fourth republic.
Our MPs win elections on the tickets of political parties and go to parliament to allegedly support the initiatives of their political parties in a more partisan way at the detriment of our collective interest and national development.
Our system of governance has made the executive president so much powerful with a lot of prerogatives to do mostly what he so desired but the legislature which is supposed to serve as a check on the excessive powers of the executives, has allegedly failed all in the name of partisanship.
Arguably, there has not been an occasion in parliament where an elected member stood firmly and openly against his or her own political party’s decision and challenged the status quo since the inception of the fourth republic.
We seem to have relegated responsible governance which prioritises the interest of the citizens to the background and clothed our system with extreme partisanship which allowed politicians to milk the country with our support.
Yes, we have supported whatever we are being served because we have not been too angry with the system and vented our spleens in anger to spark a new democratic revolution that would fearlessly challenge the status quo.
Past and successive governments always appear to be more responsible to their political parties but not the larger society that is why we often hear weird speeches like; “Our government is in power and we can do whatever we like”.
They look straight into our eyes and say this to us because we have collectively failed to hold them accountable for their stewardships which had empowered them to be unresponsive to us as they continue to promise heaven but deliver hell to us.
Parliament, as the legislative house responsible for lawmaking and reviewing executive petitions, should rigorously scrutinize bills from the executives and others referred to specific parliamentary committees to prevent the imminent external debts swallowing the country.
It is crucial for members of the house, regardless of their political affiliations, to prioritise national interests over party concerns because this is the means through which we can collectively hold the government of the day accountable and force it to be responsible to the people.
The call to implement President Nana Akkufo Addo’s “Ghana beyond aid” slogan underscores the need for economic self-sufficiency without relying on IMF assistance.
However, this great vision could not be achieved if the government is not held accountable by the members of parliament who are the direct representatives of the people.
This is my New Year hamper to the executives, the legislature and the entire Ghanaian citizens. We need to rise to be citizens. Enough of the spectatorship.
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