Opinions of Friday, 25 May 2012

Columnist: Dowokpor, William

Media and Civil Society Must Not Promote Two Party State

*in Ghana.*

Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, William Dowokpor has called on the Ghanaian electorate to reject the erroneous impression created by sections of the media, civil society and religious organizations that Ghana is a two party state.

“While it is true that only two political parties have governed the country under the forth republican dispensation, with little to show for their stewardship, by the way; it is unconstitutional for any group or individual to overtly or covertly, deliberately or inadvertently, be seen to be publicly promoting in words and or deeds a two party state, when the constitution of the republic clearly prescribes a multi-party representative democracy” he insisted.

William Dowokpor said, prevailing conditions in the country since 1992, confirms a clear lack of leadership that is focused, willing and capable of addressing the numerous challenges facing the country. He cited the alarming unemployment rates, unreliable utility and public services, corruption, lack of shared national purpose and unnecessary political polarization as some of reasons why a two party state must not be allowed to take root in the country.

The PPP candidate expressed his sentiments about the existing political duopoly in the country and the way sections of the media and civil society seem to be promoting the phenomenon to the disadvantage of *the alternative*, at a meeting with youth leaders in his constituency on Thursday, asserting that “our country is hungry for a different leadership that is capable of delivering transformational development and the emergence of the alternative *PPP* on the political landscape should be seen as an absolutely unprecedented opportunity for Ghanaians to help put the country on a more positive progressive path when they decide who leads the country in the 2012 general elections”

He explained that when a nation becomes politically polarized, like pertains in the country, people look up to the media, civil society, religious organizations and traditional authorities to become the conscience of the society, cautioning that failure of such institutions to reflect what the constitution prescribes could lead to the establishment of a duopoly which could be as dangerous as a one party state should the two parties collude on the blind side of the people.

He called on the media in particular to be fair to all duly registered and credible political parties in the country, by making their platforms evenly available for the sharing of alternative ideas on the progress and prosperity of the country in its entirety. He assured the youth of the PPP’s commitment to ensure that no child is left behind in the proposed Free, Continuous Compulsory educational system, the in same way, no youth, who is prepared and willing to work will be jobless in a PPP administration, beginning January 2013.