Even those advocating for winner takes all don't believe in it. If they do they must provide a blue print and not just pontificate from roof tops.
Even those advocating for winner takes all don't believe in it. If they do they must provide a blue print and not just pontificate from roof tops.
Ebibiman 9 years ago
Lost country
Lost country
NO UNIGOV 9 years ago
The intermingling of political parties as in a unigov system of democracy is not what is needed, not in the least bit.
The enormous powers available to the Presidency akin to a military dictatorship needs to be addressed wi ... read full comment
The intermingling of political parties as in a unigov system of democracy is not what is needed, not in the least bit.
The enormous powers available to the Presidency akin to a military dictatorship needs to be addressed with devolution of power to the grassroots to live the real meaning of the institutionalization of local governance, finding ways by making our institutions truly independent and with this factoring in how the powers of the Presidency can be trimmed in this regard, and leaving the Presidency to think of the big ticket and bold decisions with a long term outlook that addresses our overall growth and development objectives. We don't need a unigov type of democracy but rather a measured trimming of some of the powers entrusted in the Presidency to stymie the bootlicking and sycophancy which is the operational compass of the current quasi-military dictatorship type of democracy conveniently termed benevolent dictatorship based on our constitution.
And whilst doing that, political party financing should be looked at and modeled along the lines of the advanced democracies.
We cannot have a "unigov" type of democracy because it would be very, very ugly for our democracy and our politics.
Yaw 9 years ago
Those leading the crusade against winner takes all phenomenon do not have the moral integrity to lead this campaign. The did not have the courage to call to order persons who signed agreements to abide by the declaration of t ... read full comment
Those leading the crusade against winner takes all phenomenon do not have the moral integrity to lead this campaign. The did not have the courage to call to order persons who signed agreements to abide by the declaration of the 2012 election by the EC and rather went to court.
Kwaku Gloenawo 9 years ago
Hypocrisy at its best. Why does anybody support an idea that if we have opposing views about governance and we contest each other and I win power, thgen I bring my opponent in to help me implement my program that he opposes? ... read full comment
Hypocrisy at its best. Why does anybody support an idea that if we have opposing views about governance and we contest each other and I win power, thgen I bring my opponent in to help me implement my program that he opposes? How is that possible, the guy will just sabotage me so he can come to power.
Our problem is we do not hold our elected officers to account. We the people are the problem and not the system.
Why should the so called "civil society" want to be the king makers. Who are they? If they have anything to offer the country politically, they should join political parties OR if they claim to be neutral, then they should keep quiet and do their civil society work.
It appears our leaders are so focused on their stomachs they are confused about good governance.
LET US HOLD OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE and stop negotiating for a piece of the cake at the peril of development.
Nii Lante Okunka. 9 years ago
This horse is dead,let's stop whacking it in the head.Of course,the winner in anything SHOULD TAKE IT ALL.The loser should be invigorated by the rewards ascribed to the winner,not be envious but rather go back to the drawing ... read full comment
This horse is dead,let's stop whacking it in the head.Of course,the winner in anything SHOULD TAKE IT ALL.The loser should be invigorated by the rewards ascribed to the winner,not be envious but rather go back to the drawing boards and strategize for the next time around to win.
The reason some are whining for change is because in our country involvement in politics is the surest way to instant riches.So those who lose see their chances of looting curtailed or delayed so they are backing this idiotic notion to be included in the looters band wagon.
The system of winner takes all works well.Our problem is those who are partaking in the system.We need to change our attitudes then everything around us would change for the better.
Omanhene(U$A) 9 years ago
What has the concept and practice of "Winner-Takes-All" governance got to do with (a) campaign financing and/or (b) the President becomes an Alien? Are these not highly educated politicians and getting something so WRONG? Wha ... read full comment
What has the concept and practice of "Winner-Takes-All" governance got to do with (a) campaign financing and/or (b) the President becomes an Alien? Are these not highly educated politicians and getting something so WRONG? What the heck is Bagbin and the IEE smoking or drinking, lately??
“Winner-Takes-All” is a democratic principle, which says "majority carries the damn vote." Our problem in Ghana and most of Africa is the "gargantuan political immaturity and sheer selfishness."
In civilized democracies, a winning political party, say the Democrats in the USA can maintain "good appointees" by the outgoing political party (the Republicans). Examples: President Obama maintained the Republican Director of the CIA, Defense Secretary (Minister) ; he appointed a Republican to be the US Ambassador to China; nominated a Republican to become the Secretary (Minister) of Interior and still has many Republicans and Independents in his administration. THAT'S POLITICAL MATURITY, Negro!!!
But, in Ghana, not a SINGLE good wo/man is maintained from an opposing party. Even "bomber latrine" operators from a previous party and sacked and that's where the problem is. A few suggested solutions:
1) An incoming political party should maintain a few good appointed wo/man from the outgoing political party and that helps with INCLUSIVE governance;
2) Contracts awarded by an outgoing political shouldn't be abrogated or terminated by the incoming party and that also helps with INCLUSIVENESS and reduce judgment debts; and
3) Lastly, but of super importance, is the ELECTION of MDCEs. That way, the country can get elected people from other political parties, so an inclusive government is reached. Again, in civilized democracies like the United States of America, Governors (Regional Ministers in Ghana), County Executives (MDCEs in Ghana) and even Mayors of cities, towns and villages are all ELECTED and they come from different political parties. The point here is, the Presidents in advanced democracies are NOT AFRAID of governing with others from different political parties as is the case in Ghana—political immaturity, selfishness, ignorance and uneducated bunch!!
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Kwaku Gloenawo 9 years ago
When did the church also become a political party? Their business is to develop good leaders who will do the right things and bring about development.
It is not the business of the church to tell the citizenry what type of g ... read full comment
When did the church also become a political party? Their business is to develop good leaders who will do the right things and bring about development.
It is not the business of the church to tell the citizenry what type of governance is good for us.
Our leaders are lost and confused including church leaders.
CITIZENS OF GHANA RISE UP AND DEAL WITH YOUR CORRUPT LEADERS!!!
Mr T 9 years ago
We need coalitions of governments to rule Ghana and it has come to a time that only money grabbers are in politics. Because the laws are favourable for them. Political parties in Ghana are like "SUSU" organisations. The more ... read full comment
We need coalitions of governments to rule Ghana and it has come to a time that only money grabbers are in politics. Because the laws are favourable for them. Political parties in Ghana are like "SUSU" organisations. The more money you can solicit into a party the more powers you have. It is the Churches who have the obligation to enlighten the masses to wake them up for the Ghana you cherish is going down. In the abundance of plenty rivers but no drop of water to drink, gold, diamond, timber and even oil still we are struggling. Is this how you want your Ghana? Me certainly not.
HE`S NOT AFRAID 9 years ago
BAGBIN DIGESTS WINNER TAKES ALL MANTRA
BAGBIN DIGESTS WINNER TAKES ALL MANTRA
Kofi Virginia 9 years ago
"winner takes all" is not a voilation of "rile of law." Bagbin is right to ay that the sources of funding elections, the place of the party candidate in relation to those who funded him/her is importsnt in shaping the kind of ... read full comment
"winner takes all" is not a voilation of "rile of law." Bagbin is right to ay that the sources of funding elections, the place of the party candidate in relation to those who funded him/her is importsnt in shaping the kind of leadership we get. The whole idea of an executive president needs to be a concern rather than the "winner takes all" concept.
DONBOLI 9 years ago
Bagbin is confused again. Winner takes it all is the best if that party had a leader. How can NDC call themselfs a party when nobody know what they are suppose to do in govt to make life a bit easy for ghanaians.
Winner ta ... read full comment
Bagbin is confused again. Winner takes it all is the best if that party had a leader. How can NDC call themselfs a party when nobody know what they are suppose to do in govt to make life a bit easy for ghanaians.
Winner takes it all needs a good team not people. Try and error ministers who dont know anything in their depts, members whose only interest is to make money by all means.
It know Bagbin is talking after licking arses to get offices he was good or have no knowledge about what he is suppose to do.
Bagbin is the man whose village has no water in the dry season, come raining season rivers break their banks.
Bagbin cant do a smallest thing for those who voted for him by making sure they store water in the raining season.
If winner takes it all and do their work well people of Nadoli will have no problem with water in the dry season.
Nadoli people have been failed by the own MP when he was minister for water.
Brazil 9 years ago
Sir Bagbin is not confused, you might miss the meaning of the article.Read,Read, Read..... Vote Bargbin for president.
Sir Bagbin is not confused, you might miss the meaning of the article.Read,Read, Read..... Vote Bargbin for president.
Mr T 9 years ago
What many of us do not know is that those who finance the political parties run the nation at the expense of the tax payer. The president becomes powerless and act by orders from his bosses, those who finance the party. In Ad ... read full comment
What many of us do not know is that those who finance the political parties run the nation at the expense of the tax payer. The president becomes powerless and act by orders from his bosses, those who finance the party. In Advance democracies like UK, USA and Germany and many more, Political Parties are sponsored by the Nation by a parliamentary Law which pays every party the same amount, and grant the parties air space and the rest is done by the dues paid by the members of the said political party. We have entrusted this nation for years into the hands of some criminals to decide whether we must get clean water or drink dirty water. For those who are still propagating for the winner takes all, it is the most senseless thing implemented by Rawlings to blind the whole nation and get away with what he has cruelly done to Ghanaians. That is why since the discussions he has deliberately kept mute to leave sleeping dogs to keep sleeping. Just Read how other countries fund their parties and you will see that what has been imposed on you is blatantly suppression. We must resit it as Ghanaians in our numbers.
Anima 9 years ago
Right on point.
Right on point.
Sunsum 9 years ago
If a president invites people from the opposition parties to join the government, all they will do will be to sabotage the said government. Look at what some traditional leaders, some church leaders, some union leaders and so ... read full comment
If a president invites people from the opposition parties to join the government, all they will do will be to sabotage the said government. Look at what some traditional leaders, some church leaders, some union leaders and some academics are doing and pretending they have the country's interest at heart. "We'll make sure the country is not governable". Do you remember somebody said this last year.
EDUARDO DOMINGO 9 years ago
THIS ARTICLE BY MR BAGBIN MUST BE LOOKED AT A ND GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
NEW PRESIDENT NEW BOYS IS NOT REALLY IN ORDER.IT CAN RESULT INTO CHAOS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE NOT ALL LOOKING!!BOOM!!!!
THIS ARTICLE BY MR BAGBIN MUST BE LOOKED AT A ND GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
NEW PRESIDENT NEW BOYS IS NOT REALLY IN ORDER.IT CAN RESULT INTO CHAOS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE NOT ALL LOOKING!!BOOM!!!!
senior citizen Germany 9 years ago
Before Ghana can avoid the phonominon of winner takes all type of governance in our body politic we must first all take the trouble to find where the roots emmanated and whether it can be uprooted once and for all to bring sa ... read full comment
Before Ghana can avoid the phonominon of winner takes all type of governance in our body politic we must first all take the trouble to find where the roots emmanated and whether it can be uprooted once and for all to bring sanity into the political system in the country.To be sincere with ourselves we must not be like the ostrich which hides it head under some leaves and say no one sees me.This is a communist system which sees all other political parties which never won a general election as enemies as JJ Rawlings vitupulates in some of his political speeches descrbing the opposition as [our enemies] which is completely wrong.In some of the western European countries like Germany,the country is all the time being ruled by a by- partisan Government.In the US, it is also beiong done in a way to satisfy a cross section of the poilitical spectrum, in the UK ,two parties are now rulling with due harmony.To be emphatic about this phinominon, it was Dr Kwame Nkrumah who scarvangered it from Russia and China during his authoritarian rule in Ghana,ostensibly to do all alone without the opposition and described the opposition as enemies and treated it as such, and before this selfish trend can be turned arround parliament shd be able to table it on the floor to discuss with a by partisan approach to scrap it once and for all.
KUTRIKU 9 years ago
THE PROBLEM I THINK IS THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION. RAWLINGS MADE IT TO BE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT WILL LEAVE HIM WITH ABSOLUTE POWER. THERE SHD THEREFORE BE ENOUGH CHECKS AND BALANCES TO CURTAIL THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT AS WE ... read full comment
THE PROBLEM I THINK IS THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION. RAWLINGS MADE IT TO BE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT WILL LEAVE HIM WITH ABSOLUTE POWER. THERE SHD THEREFORE BE ENOUGH CHECKS AND BALANCES TO CURTAIL THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT AS WELL AS THE ELECTORAL COMMISSSIONER-WHO IS NOT EVEN ELECTED
Abeeku Mensah 9 years ago
While I admire honorable Bagbin for his upright and principled stance on all things Ghana this issue of winner-take-all political reward system is a loose proposition if he should choose to make hay out of it. The problem is ... read full comment
While I admire honorable Bagbin for his upright and principled stance on all things Ghana this issue of winner-take-all political reward system is a loose proposition if he should choose to make hay out of it. The problem is not with winner-take-all but with a useless, spineless lazy parliament body that gets paid for not doing a thing deserving of a legislative body. Assuming Ghana currently practices a form of democracy that is only good for the good people of Ghana the one question the three branches of our disastrous government ought to answer is which of the proven practicing democracies did we model ours after and or whatever happened to the checks and balances requisite of an effective and efficient democratic system if the office of the president of Ghana wields the supreme authority over budget? There is nothing incompatible being the minority party and remarkable legislation/legislative work. In more mature tested and proven democratic nations of the world, minority parties are synonymous with conscience of the nation and mostly do good work to constrain abuses and misuse of the powers of the majority party. In Ghana, minority parties are synonymous with opposing any and all legislation because they think and acts as if that is their mandate for being the losers of a political contest. What our politicians need to show the voters is the unwavering love for country and not the love of money and practice of tribal preferences. Power sharing will only encourage Ghana brand politicians to share in the looting of our national coffers without the motivation to do better, legislatively or play the conscience of the society role expected of a working minority party.
Brazil 9 years ago
Mr Bargbin keep on the job,you have a lot of us outside ghana thinking alongside with you. May be one day we will change ghana.Every Ghanaian politician should go back to school to understand the meaning of SACRIFICE...Ghana ... read full comment
Mr Bargbin keep on the job,you have a lot of us outside ghana thinking alongside with you. May be one day we will change ghana.Every Ghanaian politician should go back to school to understand the meaning of SACRIFICE...Ghana is for Ghanaians not political parties or so call rich men! Case close.
Hon. Noel Joseph Narh 9 years ago
congrats Kingsford u a real gem of politics. U DESEERVE to be part of mahama"s economic management team n not a mere majority leader. my contribution is found in biblical chapter of proverb chap 1
congrats Kingsford u a real gem of politics. U DESEERVE to be part of mahama"s economic management team n not a mere majority leader. my contribution is found in biblical chapter of proverb chap 1
Kingsoak Owusu 9 years ago
I don't understand paragraphs 6, 7 and 8. Is Mr Bagbin saying, the people the ordinary Ghanaians elected to lead them should engage in corruption since they funded themselves?
If they pay people to win election, they do s ... read full comment
I don't understand paragraphs 6, 7 and 8. Is Mr Bagbin saying, the people the ordinary Ghanaians elected to lead them should engage in corruption since they funded themselves?
If they pay people to win election, they do so based in their corrupt motives.
I think this winner-takes-all syndrome must stop. It does not matter which political part one belongs if the fellow is patrotic enough to serve the nation, the fellow should be considered.
Even those advocating for winner takes all don't believe in it. If they do they must provide a blue print and not just pontificate from roof tops.
Lost country
The intermingling of political parties as in a unigov system of democracy is not what is needed, not in the least bit.
The enormous powers available to the Presidency akin to a military dictatorship needs to be addressed wi ...
read full comment
Those leading the crusade against winner takes all phenomenon do not have the moral integrity to lead this campaign. The did not have the courage to call to order persons who signed agreements to abide by the declaration of t ...
read full comment
Hypocrisy at its best. Why does anybody support an idea that if we have opposing views about governance and we contest each other and I win power, thgen I bring my opponent in to help me implement my program that he opposes? ...
read full comment
This horse is dead,let's stop whacking it in the head.Of course,the winner in anything SHOULD TAKE IT ALL.The loser should be invigorated by the rewards ascribed to the winner,not be envious but rather go back to the drawing ...
read full comment
What has the concept and practice of "Winner-Takes-All" governance got to do with (a) campaign financing and/or (b) the President becomes an Alien? Are these not highly educated politicians and getting something so WRONG? Wha ...
read full comment
When did the church also become a political party? Their business is to develop good leaders who will do the right things and bring about development.
It is not the business of the church to tell the citizenry what type of g ...
read full comment
We need coalitions of governments to rule Ghana and it has come to a time that only money grabbers are in politics. Because the laws are favourable for them. Political parties in Ghana are like "SUSU" organisations. The more ...
read full comment
BAGBIN DIGESTS WINNER TAKES ALL MANTRA
"winner takes all" is not a voilation of "rile of law." Bagbin is right to ay that the sources of funding elections, the place of the party candidate in relation to those who funded him/her is importsnt in shaping the kind of ...
read full comment
Bagbin is confused again. Winner takes it all is the best if that party had a leader. How can NDC call themselfs a party when nobody know what they are suppose to do in govt to make life a bit easy for ghanaians.
Winner ta ...
read full comment
Sir Bagbin is not confused, you might miss the meaning of the article.Read,Read, Read..... Vote Bargbin for president.
What many of us do not know is that those who finance the political parties run the nation at the expense of the tax payer. The president becomes powerless and act by orders from his bosses, those who finance the party. In Ad ...
read full comment
Right on point.
If a president invites people from the opposition parties to join the government, all they will do will be to sabotage the said government. Look at what some traditional leaders, some church leaders, some union leaders and so ...
read full comment
THIS ARTICLE BY MR BAGBIN MUST BE LOOKED AT A ND GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
NEW PRESIDENT NEW BOYS IS NOT REALLY IN ORDER.IT CAN RESULT INTO CHAOS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE NOT ALL LOOKING!!BOOM!!!!
Before Ghana can avoid the phonominon of winner takes all type of governance in our body politic we must first all take the trouble to find where the roots emmanated and whether it can be uprooted once and for all to bring sa ...
read full comment
THE PROBLEM I THINK IS THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION. RAWLINGS MADE IT TO BE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT WILL LEAVE HIM WITH ABSOLUTE POWER. THERE SHD THEREFORE BE ENOUGH CHECKS AND BALANCES TO CURTAIL THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT AS WE ...
read full comment
While I admire honorable Bagbin for his upright and principled stance on all things Ghana this issue of winner-take-all political reward system is a loose proposition if he should choose to make hay out of it. The problem is ...
read full comment
Mr Bargbin keep on the job,you have a lot of us outside ghana thinking alongside with you. May be one day we will change ghana.Every Ghanaian politician should go back to school to understand the meaning of SACRIFICE...Ghana ...
read full comment
congrats Kingsford u a real gem of politics. U DESEERVE to be part of mahama"s economic management team n not a mere majority leader. my contribution is found in biblical chapter of proverb chap 1
I don't understand paragraphs 6, 7 and 8. Is Mr Bagbin saying, the people the ordinary Ghanaians elected to lead them should engage in corruption since they funded themselves?
If they pay people to win election, they do s ...
read full comment
5VOScZ Very neat blog article. Great.