GHANA FIRST: Enough of the tribal and crude politics

The bane and shame of every country especially developing ones is when political office holders secure political power or shuffle their way to power through the tribal card and other unorthodox modus operandi. Such politicians are simply opportunists and venomous vipers. And if you have an opportunist as a leader, what good will come out from such a person to spearhead the country’s development?

Of a truth, one distinguishing trait of political opportunists is that they are chronic liars and swindlers. They are good at weaving and worming their way into the hearts of people with sweet deceit and assume a false sense of godly humility. After annexing political power, they are like rabid dogs who only drew closer to you because they needed to satisfy their political hunger but will not hesitate to bark and bear their teeth to you when accountability is demanded from them.

Ghana’s economic retardation or stagnation finds its roots in the reason that politicians have succeeded in dividing the country with their tribal poison of politics. It appears they have almost succeeded in ripping the country into two halves and each claiming to legitimately posses a portion. That is why they can boldly declare that certain regions are their bona fide stronghold hence a no-go-area for their opponents.
This canker has eaten deep into the ordinary Ghanaian to the extent that we call ourselves Ghanaians but we see our fellow human beings from other tribes as lesser grades. This form of disrespect has degenerated to the extent that certain tribes are negatively stereotyped and called names which cannot be reproduced here.
The pathetic thing is that men and women who are well educated and should know better have allowed these self seeking politicians to pollute their conscience and independent minds. On certain social and media platforms like this, have observed how certain literates derogatorily berate others who are not of their kind as though they are total illiterates? These are signs not healthy for meaningful development.
Beyond this, these politicians have subtly being able to reduce state institutions and religious bodies to the gutters. They have bastardised perceived individuals who are a threat to them. State institutions no longer bear a sense of pride and respect. This they have achieved by fixing their loyalists and tribesmen in these prestigious positions. Simply put, competence and experience are no more the yardsticks for appointments but garrulous, tough talking and empty barrels good at waxing the Queens’ language are rather elevated. Therefore how can the country develop when there are square pegs in round holes?
Before President Barack Obama declared that there is the need to allow state institutions to work, our political leaders knew that truth but they were not prepared to do the right thing. This brings to sharp focus the truth that there are a lot of stomach politicians among us. Their uncontrolled greed and thirst for colossal wealth push them to plug in the tribal undertones whenever it is time to wrestle power, when, in fact the country bleeds to death with mounting challenges.
So if you are a very good observer, when the campaign is at a fever pitch, and they know they will be exposed in terms of practical policies, they either spin the tribal disc into motion or they render unrealistic promises or they turn to the trump card of taking their opponents to the cleaners for the purpose of character assassination. The African value of respecting the elderly at this point has no place in their political space.
On the political platform, whatever these uncouth politicians can latch on to harness power in their firm grip be it deadly or evil becomes their preferred choice. It seems they leave their sane senses at home and become possessed by something out of this world. Perhaps this can be alluded to lawyer Ayikoi Otoo mystery theory of ‘Gbesie’ or ‘Gbeshie’ when he defended the deflated ‘Sir John’ of Ghana politics.
That aside, what seems most worrying are the loose talks and incessant disrespect politicians have shown for revered religious leaders in this country. That is not to say they are above constructive criticism. Religious leaders who have been bold enough to identify key challenges affecting the economy have received their first share of spite and scorn. Ironically, these same and sane politicians run to them for prayers and protection whenever they are desperate for political power. Therefore, for our politicians to treat religious leaders with an iron fist whenever their follies and failures are exposed by the latter is unmistakeably hypocritical.
Will it be apt to ask that those religious leaders who are quite in the face massive corruption and looting of state money are afraid to criticise constructively or they themselves have soiled their hands or are knee deep with corrupt politicians in enjoying their ill gotten wealth? If our chiefs are clean, they must be mindful of the Trojan horse corrupt politicians might be offering them.
As a result of their success in creating mistrust and divisions in almost every sector of society, they now have the free room to execute their diabolical whims and caprices. They implement policies arbitrarily and cancel good initiatives they enjoyed years ago without recourse to the effect such an action will have on the poor. Initiatives they introduce are rather avenues to reward their party cronies who also channel some of the rot into their malefactors’ pockets. At the end of the rope, most of the resources that are needed to run the country end up being misapplied.
For this and for everything, the white man who has limited resources at his disposal cannot fathom why Africans cannot liberate themselves from the clutches of poverty and hunger in the midst of vast fertile land and abundant natural resources. We flock to them for everything without learning from them how they managed to arrive at where they are. The question is even if we learn, are our leaders willing to wisely and selflessly implement them?
If on the global scene, people do not respect us Africans, we tend to blame them for taking advantage of us via colonisation. That is a lousy, lazy and lame excuse. What they took form us cannot be compared with what our educated bourgeoisies had control over for which they have clearly mismanaged. Even if they were cruel to us, we should be grateful for the system of education they bequeathed to us which of course must serve as the stepping stone to demonstrate to the world that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.
Do not be surprise if on the global scene, African politicians have over the years gained notoriety for doing little to ameliorate the living standards of their populace. It is an indubitable reality that in the eyes of developed nations, whenever an African leader visits developed economies, it is either a begging adventure or a chain of shopping spree after conferences or at best attempts to woo investors who call the shots as they invest their capital in resources they have vested interest. That is why government’s revenues from Newmont Mining Company and other extractive companies to government are very paltry compared with what these companies take away.
Typical of most African fathers, they are good at making babies and barking commands but eager to shirk their responsibilities and intimidate without reason. The same thing applies to our leaders; they are good at winning political power but poor at responsibly creating wealth for all. May our leaders not busy themselves like baby bees as they run their opponents down and use power to gratify their fiery thirst for wealth at the expense of national development. Will there ever be a time where Ghanaians will exhibit political maturity that takes cognisance of the unbiased scrutiny of practical policies other than the love for tribal inclinations and blind patriotism for party persuasions?

SOURCE: OKOFO-DARTEY SAMUEL

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