The search for a President for the 2024 general elections has begun in earnest by the major political parties at a time when the country's economy is in severe crisis, causing the NPP Party's popularity to wane while that of the NDC Party to soar.
The NDC is exhaling a murmur of relief because the outcome of the next presidential election is a foregone conclusion in their estimation. The NPP does not need a prophet to predict that the next election will be fought over the condition of the economy and that the political scene will soon be flooded with campaign promises on television, radio, and billboards, etc., all vying for the votes of Ghanaians. The NPP's desire to "break the 8" may appear to be a jest, but election outcomes are notoriously unpredictable.
Numerous Ghanaians believe that the removal of the prevailing political party and its president will inevitably result in a shift in policies and economic reliefs. The performance of five previous administrations under the Fourth Republican Constitution demonstrates that this perception is erroneous. Many presidents, upon assuming office, do not chant the same tune as the political parties that propelled them to power. Governments act as if they are pursuing the goals of political parties, while implementing policies that undermine their popularity and reward those who may have financed them.
Because Government policies and decisions are not shared with the NPP in spirit, party communicators do not enthusiastically promote Government progress to the public, resulting in the NPP's waning popularity. When party communicators cannot articulate the policies and decisions of the government, things are not going well.
In reality, political parties neither nominate nor cultivate presidential candidates. Individual party members are the ones who propose themselves as presidential candidates. Thus, political parties do not possess Presidential Candidates.
Despite the fact that political parties vet, organize primaries, and support Presidential Candidates during their campaigns, they do not own them. Candidates prepare themselves, search out financial and logistical resources, select supporting teams, and compete in the presidential nominating contests of their respective political parties.
Once elected, political parties support the successful candidates as their leaders and utilize party structures at various levels to aid them in national campaigns.
The procurement of funds and logistics to support national campaigns remains the responsibility of the candidates.
Some presidents view their election victories as personal accomplishments and refuse to be controlled or criticized by their parties.
The Fourth Republican Constitution, which ushered in civilian rule after nineteen years of revolution, centralized absolute authority in the hands of a single individual â an Executive President, the country's only significant citizen. They cannot be controlled by the legislature or political parties, nor can they be ordered, sanctioned, or compelled to answer inquiries on any vital national issue.
In developed nations, institutions serve as pillars of government, whereas in Ghana, institutions are subject to the "whims and caprices" of the President. Thanks to the Constitution, presidents may become glorified dictators.
In presidential elections, many Ghanaians vote for political parties, not necessarily the candidates for president.
They do so because, paradoxically, political parties elect them and present them as their leaders at various Delegate Conferences, but they do not actually own them. My humble opinion is that until political parties nominate, finance, and have the ability to remove or retain the presidential candidate, it is a grave error to vote for the political party instead of the presidential candidate.
Upon assuming office, presidential advisers become government spokespeople, not party leaders. They become excessively powerful, some arrogant and akin to tin gods whom ministers of state dread.
When national executives of political parties attempt to demonstrate their strength to the Presidency, a rift is created between the Party and the Government.
In the past, statements such as "mofa mo Party na yenso yen fa yen aban" and literally translated "take your party and we will take our Government" or "moka koraa, na me ye ne more" have been made. Presidential advisers constitute a ''inner'' Cabinet that can reverse decisions made by the actual Cabinet. Since they do not hold public office, the subordinates cannot be held accountable for the numerous allegations of corruption that circulate against them. They have brought down numerous presidents.
Ghanaians must therefore elect a presidential candidate who is HONEST, has a strong sense of INTEGRITY, and is INCORRUPTIBLE, regardless of his political affiliation.
Integrity is the quality of always doing the correct thing, whereas honesty is the quality of being truthful and sincere with the people being led. He must be equitable and firm, but he will fail if he lacks honesty and integrity.
Past governments have condemned corruption, the most pernicious evil undermining the nation's socioeconomic development, but no effective plan or strategy has been implemented to combat it.
The unfortunate reality is that younger generations perceive or believe that corruption is the most effective means of achieving success in life. As with prostitution, corruption cannot be eradicated, but its effects on development can be mitigated, as demonstrated by other developed nations.
Ghana can learn from Rwanda, an African nation whose fight against corruption has won the affections of many people. Exposing corruption and holding the corrupt accountable is the only effective way to reduce it, but when Presidents' honesty and integrity are questioned, corruption thrives.
Politically polarized, both NPP and NDC adhere to "Jason's Law of Corruption" â Pini Jason Onyegbaduo, a popular Nigerian columnist, asserts, "The decibel of the average Nigerian's public outcry is directly proportional to his distance from the opportunity to do exactly what he condemns."
"Jason's Law states that the greater the distance between a Nigerian (African) and a position of power-authority, the more noise he makes against corruption; the closer he is to the position, the less noise he makes; and once he is in the position, the noise ceases entirely."
Both the NPP and the NDC condemn corruption hypocritically, but neither party takes corruption seriously when in power. The NDC's harsh criticisms of the NPP do not indicate that, if elected, the NDC will combat corruption. NO, they will create, plunder, share, and exacerbate it.
George Orwell stated, "A population that elects corrupt politicians, impostors, thieves, and traitors is not a victim, but a participant." Many Ghanaians are dissatisfied with the country's current state, but in Ghanaian parlance, "na who cause am?" We are "collaborators" in the election of political leaders at the polling station, constituency, district, regional, and national levels.
The process is tainted with corruption, particularly the purchase of votes with money and other products. What kind of leaders are elected when electors are influenced by gifts and vote with a clouded conscience?
Some presidential candidates who have offered to serve Ghanaians have dubious character traits, suggesting that they should be the ones receiving service. There are many candidates for the NPP, but Dr. Bawumia stands out. The election of a leader based on the "di wo lane mu" tradition will not bode well for the Party in the upcoming elections.
The current problems are generational and require generational leaders to solve them, not septuagenarians who have undertaken "yoomo therapy" to look younger. Will many Ghanaians vote for a candidate who has been tested and rejected as corrupt and incompetent? The NDC is strapping up its boots for former President Mahama, but will many Ghanaians vote for a candidate who has been tested and rejected as corrupt and incompetent? You are aware that the Presidency is not a correctional facility.
Nana Addo is convinced that digitalization is the greatest way for government administration to survive in the twenty-first century. "If we lag behind in these sciences and new knowledge, then we will lag behind in our development as a people, and we will remain where we are" â Daily Guide, January 10, 2023. (To Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) Council Members. The President was referring to the government's efforts to reduce corruption by digitizing administrative procedures. Dr. Bawumia is the only candidate who can sustain this momentum.
For our nation to advance, the Constitution must be amended immediately. Until then, we must elect a President who is INCORRUPTIBLE, HONEST, and has a strong sense of INTEGRITY. In the presidential election, Ghanaians must NOT vote for a political party, but rather for an individual with these qualities. In the past, Presidents have abused the constitutional powers granted to them in order to enrich themselves, their relatives, and their allies at the expense of Ghanaians. In order to prevent going from frying pan to fire in the upcoming elections, Ghanaians must vote wisely. If we fail, there will be no complaints, only teeth-gnashing.
Vote for an individual, not a political party.