IN spite of the sometimes explosive nature of our politics, the players in the game find the space and time to demonstrate the need for tolerance and accommodation.
Although our democratic journey so far cannot be said to be very smooth, the successes we have chalked up over the past 17 years or so are the envy of even well-established democracies in the world.
It is a delight to watch our Members of Parliament (MPs) share jokes on the floor of the House, in spite of the different ideologies that they espouse or the political persuasions they belong to.
In contrast to the esprit de corps exhibited by MPs and the leaders from across the political divide, ordinary supporters and members of the political parties attack their opponents on the least suspicion, as if belonging to different political persuasions is synonymous with being a common criminal.
This display of barbarism by sections of followers of the political parties is at its peak in the run-up to major elections.
The supporters of the political parties are the same Ghanaians who attend church together, support our national football teams and live in the same communities, but the moment issues of politics come to play, the gulf deepens.
This ugly spectacle is on display in contemporary Ghana when the issues concern the two major political parties in the country, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The Daily Graphic thinks that politics should divide us only along ideological lines but it should never be the basis for hatred, violence and disunity in the country.
We are not advocating a one-party state because our Constitution frowns on it, but we can build consensus on a number of major issues for the common good.
This is why the Daily Graphic lauds President J. E. A. Mills for his decision to regularly meet leaders of political parties with representation in Parliament as part of efforts to enhance the country’s democratic growth.
We think that all well-meaning Ghanaians should encourage our leaders to continue to share ideas on national issues, their political persuasions notwithstanding, because as a people we have a common destiny.
Indeed, the President echoed the feelings of many concerned Ghanaians when he said, “Ghana’s revered democratic credentials can only be sustained and enhanced on the virtues of multi-party democracy and consensus building in the country.”
Many countries on the African continent are learning from our experiences because of the advances we have made over the past 17 years, during which there have been the transfer of power from a sitting government to the opposition on two occasions.
The Daily Graphic calls on our leaders to make it a point to reward merit and hard work, irrespective of political persuasions, so that our people will be encouraged to share in the vision of the country, no matter which political party is in power.
First and foremost, we are Ghanaians with a common destiny. It will not be worthwhile if we continue to dissipate our energies on issues that divide us, instead of on the opportunities that we must collectively explore for the public good.
This regular platform created by the President, with support from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), should help us to put the politics of exclusion in the back burner and pursue an all-inclusive agenda from now on.
We commend the IEA, in partnership with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), for always trying to narrow the divisions in our politics by bringing the leaders together.
The IEA played a lead role in preparing the Right to Information Bill and it is working hard for the passage of the Presidential Transition Bill in order to facilitate a less problematic transfer of power from one government to another in future.
No comments:
Post a Comment