OUR POLITICIANS ARE FAILING US…….
March 31, 2008
For many Ghanaians, reports of a clash between NPP and NDC supporters at the Chief Imam’s residence last week, came as a surprise against the background of promises by the candidates that the campaign would be based on issues.
For me I was surprised not at the clash of the supporters, but at the lack of leadership showed by the two campaign teams before during and after the event.
First there was the accusation by the Nana Akuffo Addo team that Nana was attacked by NDC supporters with stones and dangerous weapons. One of Nana’s men Abu Jinapuor alleged on a number of radio stations that Nana’s security detail had to whisk him off to safety.
Then there was the outright denial by Mahama Ayarigah of the Mills Campaign, that nothing happended and that no –one was injured.
In between these two extremes, there was the statement by Aruther Kennedy (spokesman for the Akuffo-addo campaign who was not at the scene) accussing the NDC of violent conduct and the fuming of the Hon. Collins Dauda of the mills camp ranting and raving that the NPP was abusing incumbency by blocking the road illegally while the Police looked on.
Meanwhile, hundreds of households remained without water, many communities woke up without access roads, some pregnant mothers at hospitals across the country wondered how to pay their bills while scores of able bodied young men remained without jobs.
NYEP workers remained without salaries for 6 months in some cases while Korle-bu Teaching Hospital continues to deteriorate.
And as if our Politicians hadn’t noticed our problems they went further to hurl accusations at one another over who was responsible for the altercation without sparing a moment to ask we those they claim to serve what our needs are!!!!! Awesome.
I was amazed the more at the fact that senior journalists had taken sides and the ordinary Ghanaians also followed suite while traffic lights were still off in Accra.
But how could we all lose the plot so quickly?
Later when I confronted the spokespersons for the two campaigns, the claimed to be running an issue based campaign. I recall however that in spite of their earlier promise to deal strictly with the issues, the NPP spent the greater part of its time hitting at Prof. Mills record and the NDC in turn had spent so much time accusing the NPP of corruption and a failed government. And yet the water needs of many households, the failing health insurance programme, challenged school feeding programme etc etc, remained untouched.
So are our Politicians failing us?
The answer is even beyond the obvious. And who is to blame?
No not the Politicians……it’s the average citizen.
It is we the ones who are all too quick to support our parties and criticize the other so blatantly for everything who are to blame. It’s the average Ghanaian who sees nothing good in the opposing party and is so quick to split heads on issues on party lines who should bear the blame for this.
Those who voted NPP are mostly over satisfied with the government’s performance while those who voted NDC see nothing good in what the government has achieved.
But if only we would take a munite and say to either party and its leaders…… a big shame for your conduct on Friday…….. we would begin to whip them along the lines of the results we desire.
If we would be bold enough to tell them we are not interested in this unnecessary Political nonsense of who is allegedly a drug user and who is ill, then we can prop them to elevate the Political debate to solving our problems.
We should begin to think of ourselves more as citizens and not supporters of Parties. We should be ready to voice our reservations about our own party’s conduct and demand more from our Politicians.
We should be able to say….”I need water and I don’t care about who destined you to be Present of if you are better than the other party. Tell me HOW you intend to solve my water problem.”
It is then that we can shift our Politics from this game of Power seekers to problem solvers.
It is then that we can separate the people who only come to power to explain the problems instead of fixing it, and who come to say there is no money for our needs yet find money for all manner of amazing things they choose to do, from the ones who have feasible plans that solve our problems.
Are they failing us? Hell Yes they are.
But whose fault is it? Ours……….. not theirs……after all, they are Politicians.
Comments
8 Responses to “OUR POLITICIANS ARE FAILING US…….”
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I agree with you perfectly Kojo.
But you the journalists must lead in redirecting the Political campaign
I always get the impression that politics means lies and so they are doing theobvious, lies. They are never, never serious and hardly care for us. Let us all the time hold them to the isues and inculcate in our compatriots same virtues. God bless Joy FM
Hi Kojo,
I am pleased with your objective analysis of the type of politics and politicians we have in Ghana, our homeland and motherland. Continue to fire-up this way and the citizenry will begin to reflect soberly.
I have often advocated for a non-partisan type of politics in Ghana. It may sound strange in some ears but just listen my view. In all our small constituents, we know of personalities that are upright and stand for all in every respect of life. Why dont we get these people to go on our tickets to parliament instead of those who pay allergiance to parties? The people with party allergiance ALWAYS put PARTY FIRST, GHANA LAST since it is their party’s clarion call to do that.
If Ghana is to be like SINGAPORE or MALAYSIA, then we need the patriotic individuals we can all testify about in our small communities to represent us in parliament. It shouldn’t be how much money they have or the party on whose ticket they stand. This is food for thought. Thank you
Please who ever prepares your issues for the website should try to double check all the devil’s typo errors before sending. I stand for correction.Thanks for the opportunity to share a thought.
Its very sad to haer our politicians argue amongst themselves on petty issues when the real issues that are taunting us. it even gets more sad when they blame themslves for the problems instead of looking at the solutions, i think its high time that the politicians realised the fact that our dear country GHANA is bigger than all the political parties combined. Here is i differefnt twist i want to explore, the politicians are always telling us that the resources of the country are scarce, why then do they want to takoe money from these very sarce resources to fund their parties? our politicians have indeed failed us all.
hi kojo,
its rather unfortunate that that events in Ghana are turning this way. i am really surprised that in the wake of many global environmental crisis, none of our presidential aspirants has come out with a comprehensive policy on the environment. as an environmental expert, i think Ghana is going nowhere without a comprehensive and applicable environmental policies.
It will surprise you, the economic value for our environmental degradation and how Ghanaians are continually ignoring the environment.
you might think the COCAINE and ARMED ROBBERY incidences are worse but WATCH OUT FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEGRADING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
Kojo our politicians have really failled Ghanaians.They come to the ordinary Ghanaians with sugar-coated promises which super exceeds their power and ability.During elections they do promise heaven and earth to the electorate but after elections turn like chameleons who change their oclours all the time.But our politicians should not forget of the fact that when the spots of the leopard becomes washed away by kingly and queenly live it siezes to be leopard.Kojo, I would be very glad if Ghanaians would go to the polls and vote for a man or a woman of his.or her words.Because I believe with these measures our politicians would live to expectation.Kojo a word of caution from the Legend Lucky Dube saying “if you continue doing what your people do not want they would hate you”.So politicians beware Ghanaians are watching.
Hi Kojo
Can you please check on Zain network for me in Kumasi. cause I think is worse network u can get now. Their customer number 111 is not working please find out for me , if they have change from ZAIN A WONDERFUL WORLD TO ZAIN TERRIBLE WORLD thank u.
Hi Kojo,
Please ask the NDC government why the scholarship (stipend) paid to postgraduate students in China has been stopped? Since the NDC assumed power we have not been paid. We find ourselves in a serious limbo and its only God who knows what we going through Kojo.
Just imagine leaving in a remote town in China without a dime? Kojo, the situation is very horrible, we need assistance or we shall resort to the UN, the UK or the United States for assylum or anything. The NDC should know that eyes are watching, four/4 years is not too far away.(Please just air this piece in our aid)
Concerned Scholarship student.
Thanks and bye for now.