Incredible emptiness
On March 6, this year, I was at the house of Prof George Benneh as one of the guests to join the eminent statesman and academic to celebrate his 80th birthday. Despite the heavy rain that day, the house was full with Ghanaians from all walks of life who were there to honour and recognise a distinguished individual who had nobly contributed his quota towards national development and democracy.
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It was a sight to behold as some prominent citizens who have been missing from public view, were there in their numbers. I could not miss the sight of Prof A. A. Kwapong and Prof S. N. Woode. And when I encountered Ms Joyce Aryee, whom I had not met for a while, her warm embrace added to my joy.
As I shook hands with Prof Benneh, clad in white, overwhelmed by the goodwill shown to him by Ghanaians, including a delegation from the Old Vandals Association, of which he is a distinguished member, my mind went back to when he served as finance minister, under President Hilla Limann.
The budget he presented was initially rejected in Parliament. I recollected two comments made on the budget by Dr Jones Ofori Atta and Dr G.K. Agama. Whereas one described the budget as “a mere squib” the other said it was a statement of “incredible emptiness”, all in the name of partisan politics.
But, I was more than convinced that looking at the demographics of the guests, those two gentlemen would not have had any qualms being part of the celebration of the birthday of the venerated Prof. Benneh, because I mused that we have grown in our politics and strengthened our democracy.
But I was proven wrong in my optimism when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) organised a press Conference to comment about the decision of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to offer himself to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) towards the 2016 presidential election in an antagonistic posture.
That development suggests that some of our politicians do not want us to move forward. A strong democratic culture requires that at all material times, those who openly offer to contest elections will be commended.
The NDC General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah (General Mosquito), should have sent a goodwill message, for, as our people say, if you have nothing to give to your in-laws, you do not steal from them.
We must never forget that the peace that prevailed in the country after the Supreme Court verdict on the presidential election petition was not because of the ruling, but the singular gesture of Nana Akufo-Addo to respect the decision although he disagreed with the ruling.
Any call for review, which was guaranteed under the constitution, would have poisoned the atmosphere and undermined the peace, for it is advised that “sε obi gye wo kɔ nkwa mu a wongye no nkɔ owuo mu, to wit , you do not wish evil or death for the one who prays for your long life.
What is so dramatic about a member of one political party announcing his decision to contest his party’s candidature to warrant another party organising a press conference to comment negatively about that person when the power to select a candidate does not lie with that other party, especially so, when we have not entered into the campaigning season.
It does our democracy no good to do that, especially when we see ourselves as pacesetters. We would do ourselves more good, to follow what is admirable about others when they go through processes for selecting candidates and show high levels of courtesy and decorum towards one another to make democracy, the preferred choice of governance.
After 22 years of the Fourth Republic, we should not behave as if our democracy is wobbling. Those entrusted with the leadership of political parties should not delude themselves into thinking that partisan politics is about insults and shouting bouts. We must begin to demonstrate that party leadership at all levels, require men and women who are civil, mature, knowledgeable, discerning and intelligent. Beyond that, we need exemplary conduct and character as well as mutual respect to grow and strengthen our democracy.
We are building our reputations and integrity, not only for now that we wield political power and influence, but also for the future when we would be out of politics. Each step we take, could either enhance or undermine our integrity.
On that note, let me borrow from Drs Ofori Atta and Agamah by describing General Mosquito’s comments on Nana Akufo-Addo’s decision towards the 2016 general election as “a mere squib” or “incredible emptiness”, because our partisanship must grow in civility.