Political parties criticised for populist rhetoric
Enoch Darfah Frimpong
Politics
3 minutes read
Delivering the first in the series of the 46th J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures in Accra last Monday, Professor Ayee stressed the need for political parties to take a cue from the Directive Principles of State Policy in the drafting of their manifestos for the good of the country.
The J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures are organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) every year since 1968 in honour of Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah, an astute politician and member of the ‘Big Six’.
The theme for the three-day lectures is, “Leadership and the Ghanaian state today: Reflections and perspectives”.
On the first day, Professor Ayee addressed the topic, “The leadership paradox and national development” to the admiration of a large audience at the British Council Hall in Accra.
The Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in Chapter Six of the 1992 Constitution provides a major strategic policy direction for the nation.
In line with those provisions, the President is mandated to report to Parliament at least once a year on steps taken to ensure the realisation of the policy objectives, particularly, the realisation of basic human rights, healthy economy, right to work, right to good healthcare and right to education.
But Professor Ayee observed that a review of the manifestos of political parties showed that although the documents tried to address some of the political, economic, social, educational and cultural objectives, they did not make direct reference to the Directive Principles of State Policy as their source.
“In fact, the principles are not mentioned at all in their manifestos and thus linking them becomes difficult,” he noted.
Professor Ayee said the disregard for the Directive Principles of State Policy in the manifestos of political parties was a contributory factor to the attitude of governments discontinuing the policies, programmes and projects of their predecessors in order to gain legitimacy or score political points.
“There is partisanship in every country. But what we are witnessing in Ghana is excessive partisanship,” he remarked, adding that there was the need for a comprehensive and long term national development plan.
He said the system of political patronage in which members of the winning political party were rewarded for their allegiance had been created by the ‘winner-takes-all, zero-sum politics that has come to signify Ghanaian politics”.
Professor Ayee acknowledged that the phenomena of walkout and boycott of parliamentary business were legitimate practices, mostly embarked upon by the Minority to protest against certain decisions in the House.
“However, there is the perception that the practices in Ghana’s Parliament are sometimes politically motivated, irresponsible, selfish and counterproductive. There is, therefore, the tendency to question the judgment, responsibility, nationalism and commitment of the leadership of the Minority,” he remarked.
Story by Kofi Yeboah
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