Monday, 15th August, 2022

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 15th August, 2022 Page 5
Ghana's political complexion
and the discolored patches
Ghana, formerly
known as the
Gold Coast is a
country located
in West Africa.
She has a notoriety for a
number of things which
include being the first sub-
Saharan African country to
disannex from British colonialism,
the hospitableness
of its citizens, and the relative
stability it has enjoyed
over a protracted period.
It is ranked as the most
peaceful country in West Africa,
2nd in Africa, and 38th
globally by the Institute
of Economics and Peace in
its 2021 Global Peace Index
report.
She is named after the
extinct but once prosperous
Ghana Empire, of the 7th to
13th century situated in the
North West of the modernday
country (modern-day
southeast of Mauritania and
western Mali).
Technically, Ghana is a
wealthy country, endowed
with immense resources.
The top cocoa producer also
has abundant gold, timber,
diamonds, bauxite, manganese,
oil, and lithium has
been discovered in commercial
quantities.
But Ghana has not been
an exception from the "Resource
Curse" that bedevils
many wealthy African countries
with the potential to
become extremely prosperous.
The resource curse
also called the paradox of
plenty was firstly coined by
Richard Auty in 1993 referring
to the failure of many
resource-rich countries
to benefit fully from their
natural resource wealth,
and for governments in
these countries to respond
effectively to public welfare
needs.
Good leadership has
eluded this beautiful country
and we have mostly settled
for mediocrity. Slowly
becoming a microcosm of
failed states.
Interethnic and intratribal
marriages may have
become popular in recent
times, but Ghana has a
Ghana as volatile. It thrives
on corruption and its
wheels are oiled by it.
A lot of our politicians
are well-read and exposed.
Books written by great authors
like Niccolò Machiavelli
with tried and tested
principles have been manuals
used to manipulate the
masses.
Instances are "Men are
so simple of mind, and so
much dominated by their
immediate needs, that a
deceitful man will always
find plenty who are ready to
be deceived".
"There is nothing more
important than appearing
to be religious".
"Cunning and deceit will
every time serve a man better
than force to rise from
a base condition to great
fortune".
"Therefore it is unnecessary
for a prince to have all
the good qualities I have
enumerated, but it is very
necessary to appear to have
them. And I shall dare to say
this also, that to have them
and always to observe them
is injurious, and that to appear
to have them is useful;
to appear merciful, faithful,
humane, religious, upright,
and to be so, but with a
mind so framed that should
you require not to be so, you
may be able and know how
to change to the opposite"
The political scene is
characterized by a majorfragile
facade of unity. In
reality, we are divided into
tribal lines. We don't need
an anthropologist to do indepth
research on this. We
are either faking oblivion or
deciding to live in denial.
The 2021 Population
and Housing Census by the
Ghana Statistical Service
put the literacy rate now at
69.8 percent. This is quite
impressive and indicates a
good number of Ghanaians
could be on top of issues.
Unfortunately, we have
become more partisan than
ever before. It may be for
the underlining condition
of tribalism. We are sharply
divided along tribal lines
and our tribal biases are
reflected in our choices. A
high literacy rate has not
been enough to alter our
tribal stances. Since there is
little political dealignment,
true accountability has
been nonexistent.
Our society has evolved
and our value system
has shifted. More prominence
is placed on money.
The source is disregarded
totally. Leaders are a reflection
of their society and as
most of us lament about
how corrupt our society
has become, let us accept
that it has been endorsed
by a majority of us from our
homes, churches, mosques,
and work settings.
I may describe the existing
political landscape in
ity of politicians stating
untruths, concealing the
truth, and paltering. They
cash in on the corruptibility
of electorates and play
on tribal cards to acquire
power. After all most are
blinded by partisanship.
The media, a supposed
fourth arm of government,
which is to keep the
populace informed and also
serve as a whip of the government
has come out to be
an aid in manipulating and
misinforming the people
over many years.
The media in the Ghanaian
political terrain is
vulnerable. Their independence
is easily compromised
because it is much
easier to influence most of
them. Most professionals
here are financially displaced
and work under very
challenging circumstances.
A lot of media institutions
are owned by politicians
or people in bed with
politicians. This sets the
tone and position of workers
in such establishments.
Besides, they don't receive
decent remuneration or
good conditions of service.
Consequently, wellmeaning
journalists have
come to find themselves in
the pockets of ambitious
and unethical politicians.
Most have been. affiliates to
one political party or more.
Now the pattern and
modus operandi of most
Ghanaian politicians have
become predictable. The
populace has lost trust in
most politicians and political
office holders. This air
of mistrust has made the
landscape very volatile and
Ghana must move cautiously.
Institutions that
were once very reputable
and seen as sacred in their
obligations seem to have
been infiltrated by partisan
political puppets over some
years now.
Religion was a restraining
belt, but it is equally
losing its grip quickly as
many have come to see a
lot of these religious leaders
as corrupt, unethical,
and morally warped. Easily
induced by money and visible
exploit their positions
to make more money.
Politicians may have to
earn their trust since many
people are waking up to the
fact that most of the electorates
are just a way to a
means for the politicians
to gain power. The charm is
waning off.
In summary, the political
climate in Ghana is one
of distrust. It is one that is
seen as an industry where
deceit is peddled for great
economic and financial potentials
and consequences
for the politician and those
who find favor with them.
Long Live Ghana.
By Dumenu Charles
Selorm