After 25 years of a thriving democracy in Ghana which has seen some gains, there are still significant gaps in representation of the people, former Executive Director of the Center of Democratic Development has said.
According to Prof Emmanuel Gyima Boadi while it is true that Ghanaians have chosen their leaders freely in largely peaceful elections over the period, it is mostly friends and families of the winning party, or professional male politicians, many of whom lack significant working experience outside partisan politics who exercise power on behalf of all Ghanaians.
The governance expert described as “a critical thinker and an incredible writer” said the 25 years of democracy has also seen a manifest under representation of women and people with disabilities at all levels of the governance process.
As if that is not enough, Prof Boadi said the groups which constitute the backbone of the economy, particularly farmers, fisher folks and miners, are completely left out as spectators whilst the winners of democracy, the white colour politicians take it all.
He was speaking at the 14th "Kronti ne Akwamu" Lecture under the theme: “Making Democracy Work for the People: Reflections on Ghana's 25-year journey towards democratic development.”
Recounting the history of Ghana’s fourth Republic, the Executive Director of the Afrobarometer Report said after almost 11 years of military rule in Ghana, there was a transition without change in 1992 which ushered in a new dawn of democracy and the beginning of the fourth Republic.
Having held a number of peaceful elections, Prof Boadi said the two institutionalized political parties, the governing NPP and the opposition NDC, with somewhat independent judiciary may be fruits of a stable democracy but to what extent has this democracy benefited the people? To what extent is this democracy working for all as stipulated by the Directive principle of state policy or are we plateauing on a change without transformation? he asked.
In his attempt to answer whether democracy has been of any benefit to Ghanaians, Prof Boadi said Ghana’s democracy must of necessity be representative and inclusive as implied in Abraham Lincoln’s famous “government of the people, by the people and for the people” statement.
Even though the outcomes of the elections in the fourth Republic are broadly representative of the will of the people, Prof Gyima Boadi suggested that only a privileged few have benefited with the critical groups still playing spectators.
Role of Money
Prof Boadi said the role of money is troubling and the absence of credible regulations on campaign finance has also not helped matters.
He said Ghana’s elections have generally tilted towards parties that buy votes or instigate violence the most which detracts from the idea of peaceful stable democracy.
The governance expert again applauded the lively and free media, particularly the growth of local media in Ghana which he said has deepened participation in the country’s governance process.
“At the basic unit individuals are making great use of social media for change,” he said with a “growing number of experts able to participate in discussions.”
He was also impressed by the huge involvement of the middle class in country’s governance process and singled out the Occupy Ghana and some other civil society groups as opening new frontiers in citizen vigilantism and helping to keep public officer on their toes.
He called on politicians to truly practice “public service and not self service.”
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