Do you know that our politicians criticize one another more than telling us their visionary packages for the country?
We’re witnessing before our very eyes a panorama of a political culture which is not aimed at national development. This kind of political attitude focuses on the opponent and has political party interest at first. This is what has come to be known in our country as politics of insults. This kind of unethical political culture stems from the unethical attitude of too much criticism of the political opponent than focusing on national development. Ghana’s politicians are lynching one another with verbal assaults instead of being pragmatic on national issues. National issues are downplayed in political colors other than facing the real problem. Our total downfall as a nation can be traced to this attitude of inter-partisan criticism which brings no growth to the nation. It is apparent that if you don’t know how to lash the opponent with sharp words your political credibility becomes questionable. More seriously, the entire nation has grown to enjoy this kind of political cacophony soon forgetting that their comfort and future is at risk. But how far has this kind of politics taken us to as a nation?

A politician is in fact one who engages in political dialogue, bureaucracy or career. One whose integrity is focused on addressing current challenges, offering critical evaluation, and offering credible solutions that can help to curb or accelerate national development. Even though many politicians practice party politics, a politician must respect the national constitution and the general interest of the public. These are the qualities of the ideal politician.
The practice of politics in Ghana is not a new phenomenon that must cause our country to stumble. Dating from the 1940’s to present, Ghana has witnessed more than 30 political parties (both popular and unpopular parties). Currently there are more than 23 registered political parties on the list of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. The democratic atmosphere has become so fertile for the up springing of political parties. But for what reasons do these political parties exist? What kind of critical agenda have they affected in the Ghanaian state of affairs?

Let me emphasize that our political parties have wacked the nation of no-reason-noise-making politics. Their voices are heard everywhere in the media but words without wisdom, vision and practical general interest for the entire nation. The political attitude in Ghana today is a dirty dialogue between political parties. Political platforms have been used as arenas for lashing opponents instead of communicating methods, ideas and how Ghana is going to make it in the next decades. If politicians are not able to communicate to the entire nation a permanent developmental project for the country, how can they perform when voted into office? If they fail to spread before us a solid roadmap into the future, as to how to foster quality education, reduce traffic jam, create employment, increase both foreign and local investors, disaster management measures, offer national security, stop police bribery, corruption and brutality, manage custom funds, promotion of human dignity etc. upon what policies are they going to perform? These questions are important and we can’t downplay upon them any longer.

We are living in critical moments in Ghana. A nation situated along the ocean with all the natural and independent resources must not suffer that long. We can never dream of the kind of development we’re hoping for as long as we keep on doing this kind of politics. There is a famine of true politicians in Ghana. The country needs leaders who sleep and dream. We need leaders who walk with good visions and directions. We need a leader who leads. As I keep on saying, our current politicians don’t even have a charismatic voice to inspire unlike Nkrumah. How long will we continue to do partisan whiles things are breaking down right before our eyes? How long should we allow our politicians to play on our conscience and franchise? Why can’t we speak out to politicians rather than dancing to their pipes?

The current state of our politics must speak to our conscience. How far has this kind of politics taken us to as a nation? Absolutely backwards! Let’s tell our politicians to stop the unnecessary criticism to fix the country!

Clifford Owusu-Gyamfi, University of Lausanne, Switzerland