In order for Ghana to develop scientifically, technologically, economically, socially, politically, etc, Ghanaians need to start a revolution. No, I am not encouraging a gun-trotting revolution; rather, a revolution to fill the Ghanaian parliament with as many independent candidates as possible.

During the NPP regime, every issue or policy that the NPP members wanted to implement in Ghana was implemented. If NPP wanted to sell Ghana to a foreign country, it could have done so because Ghanaian politicians vote along party lines or affiliation. Thus, all NPP parliamentarians (perhaps with the exception of Mr. Appiah-Ofori, MP for Asikuma-Brakwa-Odoben constituency), would have voted to sell Ghana. Today, if NDC wants to sell Ghana to a foreign country, it will have enough votes in the Ghanaian parliament to do so. Again, this is because Ghanaian politicians vote along party lines. An independent parliamentarian, on the other hand, does not pay allegiance to any political party so will be free to vote for the interests of Ghana, not for the interest of any political party. In addition, an independent parliamentarian would be less likely to be corrupted because he or she would not need to steal money to support the running of any political party. Yes it is true that many people steal to enrich themselves but the fact is that those who are independent candidates would not have to steal to sustain any political parties.

Let me give a scenario depicting the importance of having many independent parliamentarians as checks on government decisions and policy making. There 230 seats in parliament. Let us assume that the majority NDC controls 100 seats, NPP controls 90 seats, and 40 seats are controlled by independent parliamentarians. NDC and NPP will need the votes of the independent parliamentarians in order to carry the day as far as decision/policy making is concerned. Thus, in any parliamentary debates and subsequent voting, the dictatorship of the majority would be curtailed since no one party will have absolute majority. If we have many independent parliamentarians, in the present political climate, NDC would have to consider the interests and positions of these independents. NDC and/or NPP parliamentarians would have to convince the independents to vote with them. Ghana needs these check and balances, otherwise we will not make any meaningful progress.

Have you heard that despite the fat salaries they earn; despite the fact that some of our fire service men and women use buckets is putting out fires, despite the fact that some of our hospitals, like the Swedru Government hospital, do not have refrigerators to preserve blood, the parliamentarians want to increase their salaries?

Speaking about the lack of a refrigerator at the Swedru Government Hospital Mr Nkasah said, “the blood fridge of the hospital got burnt when fire razed down the laboratory unit of the hospital about seven and half years ago and had not yet been replaced. The workers had improvised to enable them to monitor the blood so that it would not go waste. The cost of the fridge ranged from between 7,000 and 8,000 Ghana Cedis and that the authorities of the hospital were struggling to purchase one.”

I hope you are aware that on January 16, 2011, six container shops at the Oda Market in the Birim Central Municipal Assembly were engulfed in flames, destroying property estimated at GH¢60,000. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) used buckets and other small containers to fight the inferno, due to lack of fire tenders.

Supposedly, Ghana cannot afford a refrigerator for one of its major hospitals yet our politicians are considering increasing their salaries. Yes, Ghana cannot afford to provide fire tenders for the Fire Service but the parliamentarians want to increase their salaries. Remember that when it comes to their perks, NDC and NPP parliamentarians are in full agreement with each other!

Successful countries like Norway and Canada have used the power of independent parliamentarians and/or small party members to check the abuse of power by any one political party. Since our recent history is rife with examples of political party greed, we should sponsor, support, and elect independent candidates to the parliament. Independent candidates may be our only hope.

If you have clout in your constituency, please stand for the next election as an independent candidate. My goal is to form an association of interested Ghanaians to raise money to support independent candidates in the next elections. I hope that when that time comes, you will join me in the interest of our dear country.
Kwaku Obosu-Mensah
Associate Professor of Sociology
Lorain County Community College, USA