Ideally, a political party is supposed to be a coalescence of diverse group of people who share similar ideology and have reached consensus to work synergistically towards election with a view to forming a government and implementing their manifesto promises to impact on the lives of the masses.

So, if we were to go by the general acceptation of a political party, then we can dare state that every recognised political party must have an explicit focus and direction. And, in the absence of clear focus and direction, such a political party cannot be taken seriously in any sense.

Apparently, the reasons that make individuals go into politics are multifaceted. First, some people claim they go into politics for the love of their nation. Others just see power as an opportunity to amass wealth.

It is also believed that other people go into politics with a view to enjoying the power and satisfying their egos. And other politicians are empowered by the convictions of political ideologies.

Whatever their reasons for entering into politics, they, the politicians, especially, the NDC apparatchiks, have lost our respect, and, discerning citizens don’t trust them anymore.

Yes, once upon a time, anyone elected as president, or gained a seat in parliament was looked up to and respected by all. Alas, this is not the case anymore.

How can some of us show deference to incompetent and corrupt politicians like those in the NDC Party?

It would appear that they do not care for the masses; they only scramble for power in order to pursue their vested interests.

There is no denying or hiding the fact that governance is a serious business and as such it requires forward thinking, serious and committed group of people to bring about the needed advancement.

Nevertheless, it has not been always the case in Ghana’s democratic dispensation. The emergence of multi-party democracy has given birth to purposeful and maladaptive political parties.

Disappointingly, however, we have over the years been electing dreadful economic managers who have only succeeded in sinking the economy deeper and deeper into the mire through corrupt practices.

Obviously it is that trite and dowdy word respect that has given the supposedly grown up people in Africa the licence to misbehave over the years.

For, if that was not the case, how come our leaders continue to create loot and share our resources and often go scot free?

Of course, you would be labelled disrespectful for upbraiding for instance, the voracious party apparatchiks who persistently accept bribes and dip their hands into the national coffers as if there is no tomorrow. For God sake, how could it be contumelious for calling a spade a spade?

Given that corruption is economic, social, political and moral hindrance on the advancement of most nations, especially the emerging countries like Ghana, the insensitive NDC officials have over the years been siphoning our scarce resources to the detriment of the penniless in society.

Let us face it, though, the economic effects of corruption are huge and often lead to inefficient use of resources and it discourages productive investment, above all foreign investment.

Moreover, corruption impacts negatively on economic growth and diminishes the standard of living.

Besides, corruption unfairly channels wealth and resources to a few greedy individuals and more importantly to the detriment of the poor.

Sadly, however, corruption often resorts in bizarre excessive public spending and makes the tax system less efficient and needlessly increases the public deficit and destabilizes national budgets, encourages capital flight and creates perverse incentives that stimulate income-seeking rather than productive activities, in a negative sense.

In fact, the social and political effects of corruption are no less destructive: “corruption undermines the rule of law and democracy; it endangers good government, efficient public administration and sound governance; it distorts the economy ; it threatens fundamental human rights and subverts the institutions that guarantee stability, security and sustainable development” (Argandonya 2006).

Dearest reader, don’t you think the bribery and corruption cases involving SSNIT, SUBA, SADA, GYEEDA, Woyome, Bus branding,NSS, amongst others invariably distort the economy , threaten the fundamental human rights and subvert the institutions that guarantee stability?