The Ultimate Purpose of Political Power

It would be greatest joke of the millennium for anyone to assume that politicians are ignorant of their basic duties after annexing political power. And it would be highly erroneous on the part of the electorates to feign ignorance of what those who represent must do for them. Is it appropriate, therefore, to ask whether politicians take this sense of responsibility bestowed on them for donkey droppings or something they consider sacred?

It appears the actions and inactions of some of our political leaders make their commitment to the people questionable if not superficial. That is why many do think of politicians as liars especially in Ghana as well as the world over. How then can this damaged image be repaired in the midst of apparent mistrust and suspicion?

The answer lies fittingly in the true purpose of political power: To ameliorate the living standards of the populace in a progressive manner. This positive progress is not the same as glorifying mediocre achievements when better strides can be made. And that to me is the bane of Africa and its leaders. They construct KVIP toilets in the 21st century, construct classrooms at inflated cost, sign deadly contracts, take years to construct dwarf kilometres of roads at a snail pace and they shout on top of their voices for us to hail them for having done the unimaginable.

No wonder no former African president won the Mo Ibrahim award for 2012. The award honours African leaders who exhibited exceptional leadership during their tenure in office. Pathetically, this is the third time the prize committee has failed in six years to find a befitting winner since its inception in 2007. What then is the missing piece in this jigsaw political puzzle?

It is not adequate for our leaders to demonstrate their genuine intentions towards our wellbeing with their lips only. They should walk the talk. Development is not solely attained by rumbling the lips when maximum effort is not applied to where their words are.

I must submit our politicians are talkative. They talk big and deliver little. A case in point is the overhyped STX deal that never saw the light of day. I wonder if the NPP could have implemented their much touted free education policy. Good policies are therefore only wishful thoughts without the necessary actions taken.

Beyond this, it is imperative for our leaders to note that their political commitment is not to themselves, their families and their string of concubines. Their supreme commitment in this regard is to the people who elected them and the country they call their homeland. For this reason, they should seek the development of the country first and all other things shall be added to them.

It is common knowledge that there is a thin line between sanity and insanity. That is why for the sake peace and development, we collectively surrender our individual sovereignty to a certain group of persons who must represent our interest. However, the question that pops up repeatedly is, are these politicians serving our interest or they are pursuing their selfish dreams? In line with the above point, it is generally perceived that Ghanaians are peaceful. I absolutely believe that but our leaders should not capitalise on that to squeeze us unduly while they massage themselves in comfort. They should know that when persons are kept under intense pressure, they implode and explode to register their displeasure messily. Small wonder some foot soldiers are ransacking state property especially in the northern region where poverty is endemic.

Political power is won on the premise of a better life. If Ghanaians are kept in darkness frequently with no end in sight, if they are bombarded on daily basis with high unemployment rate, if the economy is not buoyant despite our numerous natural resources, then, one may ask what at all are our leaders doing? Ridiculously, these same politicians who create a picture of the economy not being vibrant hence the need for the masses to sacrifice, within a matter of months after annexing power, are seen riding in expensive cars and piling on folds of fatty flesh.

That which worsens the situation is the deliberate effort of politicians to reward only a cross section of Ghanaians who are party faithfuls. In this country, it appears it is a curse for your party to be in opposition. Scholarships and other benefits are given to those who work for the party and not the country. Life somewhat becomes miserable if one is not highly connected to the powers that be or have friends closer to the corridors of power. Aside that, the country is deeply polarised along political and ethnic lines thanks to politicians. They have succeeded in applying politics to turn our heads against one another instead of uniting the country. As a result, whenever the government in power is misleading the nation to the slaughter house, you find charlatan singing the praise of their benefactors.

It seems African leaders do not understand democracy or they have deliberately failed to comprehend how democracy works. On the back of democracy, they ride to gain power and they perform abysmally despite their sweet promises of rapid economic transformation.

What benefits have accrued to the Nigerian people in the face of their huge oil deposits? What has become of DR Congo in spite of its huge mineral deposits? The last time I checked, it was perceived to be the rape capital of the world. The least said about Ivory Coast and other African countries the better it will be for now. We wait to see what becomes of Ghana.

As I mentioned earlier in this piece, it is not that African leaders are oblivious of their duties towards those they govern but the bane of the continent and its people is the apparent lack of commitment, sacrifice and the inability of our leaders to choose national interest over party interest. If Lee Kuan Yew had honoured the selfish dictates of few party charlatans, Singapore would not have found itself where it is now. If Nelson Mandela had gone the way of most African leaders, South Africa would have been the haven for hellish vendettas. His unification processes and his eventual resignation have paved the way for sound economic progress. Will Robert Mugabe die in office or will he resign with his dignity intact?

So, the question that I ask is why can’t Ghana step forward and be counted among the prominent in the world? Are we constantly going to depend on development partners for loans and handouts? Are we for the sake of a three billion dollar Chinese loan going to allow these Chinese illegal miners to destroy our environment and take over retail businesses in the country? Our leaders should not forget that power is a function of direct application of action coupled with focus to cause positive change.

Our politicians therefore must not be seen to be sluggish or reactive to crisis. They must move beyond partisan dictates, the celebration of mediocrity and take bold steps that will create equal opportunities for every Ghanaian. Political power when entrusted to any individual must be managed to bring peace and prosperity. Otherwise, we shall scramble for it and later destroy ourselves and the country in the process. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Busia performed their part before they were bitterly overthrown. Now we are in the era of the Johns. I trust the last John would not disappoint us before he expires.

From my observation, political power appears to be very sweet otherwise people would not move heaven and earth to secure it. Therefore those who control it must make sure they do the honourable thing by making those of us beneath the rung of the social ladder feel not short changed.

Okofo-Dartey, Samuel sodesq2000@yahoo.com