Why the new administration provides hope for a better Ghana
Some of the cliches that have been used to describe Ghana democratic governments have been
1.Ghanaians vote according to ethnic groups 2. Citizens are helpless 3. The Government do not listen 4. There will always be corruption 5. They are all the same
- At the core, voters opt for candidates from their own community. That is why worldwide including Western countries, candidates almost always win in their hometowns, states or counties. However in established democracies separate issues trump loyalty at the larger level.
Ghana has just got that break where needs become more important than traditional allegiances. This is borne out by the regional breakdown of 13 to 3 for the winning party. This shows that issues apart from ethnicity were more important for the plurality of voters.
Now, Ghanaians have realized that they are not helpless and that the people united for a purpose cannot be defeated. It also means that when the economy and well-being improve other issues can be the decider.
Until just about a decade. One could rant, and rave at length and it will be confined to a bar or a street corner and no one will know and news papers will not print anything. Now, anybody and that is everybody with a social media account can go viral and reach the ears of the president or those managing the feed. Sometime ago tehy would send some goons to arrange some accidents. Presently, the goons watch helplessly as bad press spreads across the corners of the globe. They can hear and yet they cannot stop it.
Yes there would always be corruption, but then it is going to be broadcast and publicized. In this age, there will be paper trails, electronic evidence, and video recordings. Corruption is going to happen with the very clever, creative and audacious people and the trail remain forever. We should not allow corruption to go on on the same scale.
No not all politicians are the same, not all are conniving, insidious, vindictive and out for themselves. We can cast our minds back. Hilla Limann could not hurt a fly, and John Evan Atta Mills was likeable and did not have a single bad bone in his body. If Ghana has to get rid of political corruption I will put my money on Mahama rather than the other option. We should start a tradition where all corrupt politicians receive their just recompense.
Peace and mercy are not Justice nor Fair. Let the present government hold criminals accountable and when they leave the same should be meted out to them. This is how a new cycle can be established.
Ghana remains the BEST black African country perhaps not economically now but in terms of harmony, sociology, education, and prospects.