MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: WHAT HON.DOE ADJAHO’S FAMOUS SPEECH DIDN’T CAPTURE

INTRO

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corp on Wednesday 25^th February 2015, the Speaker of the august Ghanaian Parliament ,Right Honorable Doe Adjaho, was  quoted as vehemently bemoaning the seemingly monetization of the Ghanaian Politics, a development  he deems  accounted  for the unfortunate decline in the quality of Parliamentarians and corruption. In what many pundits described as sheer candidness , one of the most experienced Parliamentarians did not mince words in expressing grave displeasure with the situation where parliamentarians were elected on the basis of how much they could pay to their constituents and not how effective they discharged their duties.

Undoubtedly, the continuous tracking and tracing of parliamentarians by their constituent for financial support is a disturbing development that is objectionable and inimical to efforts at deepening the country’s democracy. Indeed, there is absolutely no doubt that the practice affects productivity among members of Parliament.

It is instructive to note that the Speaker is not alone in his view. In fact, His Excellency the President; many other politicians and Social commentators have on many occasions shared similar sentiments on how the seemingly monetization of Ghanaian Politics was taking a toll on efforts at eradicating corruption and institutional inefficiencies.

Reading the news item and following the reactions that followed the story got me reminiscing about the sad tales many Parliamentarians shared after the 2012 elections.

Granting interviews to the media after the 2012 elections, many parliamentarians especially those who couldn’t retain their seats poured out their frustrations about the financial quagmire that they have been plunged into in view of the unbridled and insensitive demands that their constituents and other political apparatchiks had placed on them during the electioneering period.

MY OBSERVATION

While I fully agree in principle with the call for a paradigm shift in the way monetizing of politics, I am equally unable to sympathize with some of the politicians as their demands are most times self- inflicted and justifiable.

Ostensibly to win elections, most of these politicians keeping arousing and heightening the expectations of their constituents and voters. They leave no stone unturned by making untenable and unfeasible promises.

Monitoring events in the build up to year’s District Assembly elections, I have been bewailed at some of the promises that these aspirants keep making. For some, I am very clear in my mind that some of these promises by these candidates are either a manifestations of sheer ignorance or those that are blatantly informed by political expediency.

While leaving office after a strenuous day at work, I couldn’t but laugh myself to embarrassment, hearing a tape of one of the District Elections Aspirants. Not only was the unharmonious rhythm in which he chooses to package his message a source of fun, also the wanton disregard for the grammatical accuracy in his message is one that cannot be lost on any informed mind.

Let me attempt to transcribe his speech at this juncture. Perhaps, you may transfer your vote to his District and do him the honor.(Reader’s discretion)

‘’First of all my name is Ibrahim Issah Adaabor. And with my education, I start my school at Teacher Afranie Day Nelsil(Spelt as Pronounced) in this constituency  Adukrom. I also went to Adukrom Presby Primary.From P1 to P6(With physical emphasis).And I leave there to Universal Preparatory School  I continue my JSS there. Before then I transfer myself to KTI. That is Kumasi Technical Institute then I do all my course there.

And I want to stand like Assembly man. That’s why I come. So when am come power. In my country, I assure people that when am come power, Firstly is that toilet. Second one I will buy tables and Chairs for the community, if something of wedding or ceremony appear. They will come and take it and bring me back again. Third,I will make sure old man and woman you will go toilet for free.

THE SONG BEGINS

Okay I can sing my song. Now I want to sing. When I say everything say, it’s free.

Toliet for Oldman and Woman-Its free(supporters responds)

Canopy Chairs for Weddings- Its free(supporters responds)

Throwing b))la for  morning -Its free(supporters responds)

Barber for childrens-Its free(supporters responds)

As I allude to District level politics, I want to submit that DCEs are worst hit when the issue of monetization comes to the fore. Not only do their presence in local communities makes the practice easy and convenient for the ever  demanding party apparatchik and constituents, but also the  relatively paltry earnings makes it impossible for them to meet those expectations, a development that usually cause public disdain and disaffection towards them.

For those who cannot leave to see power slip their hand, they are compelled to indulge in unscrupulous financial activities in order to meet these demand. Some also fall on the paltry allocations, a situation that opens them up to the risk of financial malfeasance and misappropriation.

May be the speaker wanted to look at the action from the Perspective of how the development affected Parliament. Yes, I totally agree with him, critical as the institution of Parliament is to deepening the country’s democratic credentials. What I want to submit is that the Palm tree does not rattle without a cause. Paying attention to the consequence without the cause is flawed intellectually and practically.

As it currently stands it appears the public only stands accused in the whole issue of monetization of politics. There is no doubt that they are, as they are always at the requesting end. I do not intend to hold any brief for the public. Indeed, the public is also culpable.

What I wish to respectfully add to the Honorable Speaker’s lamentation is what in my estimation encourages the development.

To keep up with the tension that characterize our kind of politics, some political players recruit and surround themselves with all manner of characters. These people most of whom have questionable financial and moral records become the life blood of their campaigns, unleashing physical and verbal terror on opponents, on some occasions.

During the electioneering periods they devote all their time, strength and other resources at their disposal making sure that their candidate win.

While politician laments over the issue I want to ask these questions:

Is it for nothing that people leave their lucrative businesses to join mass protests? Is it for nothing that people put their lives and that of their families on the line for politics? Is it for nothing that people put their reputation on the line by strenuously defending the indefensible on political issues? Is it for nothing that people spend so much money serially and practically calling all radio morning shows on Programmes? Is it for nothing that these young people walk the nook and cranny of communities?

Is it for nothing that people endure beatings and invectives from political opponents and their members in some occasions? Is it for nothing that young men allow themselves to be recruited into tugs? Is for nothing that people openly and blatantly spew vitriol as the leadership of state institutions who are perceived to be for their opponents? Is it for nothing that people carry ballot boxes even at the risk of being lynched?

ü    In all the aforementioned can one say that these political patronage and risks are borne out of sheer altruism? I don’t believe that it these risks are taken for altruistic purposes.

ü      Are the aforementioned borne out of sheer patriotism? I don’t see that degree of patriotism, at least not from one that I can vouch for.

     

    It is done for the fun of it? I don’t believe. No rational person seeks fun in such an expensive manner.

I have not lived for long. Indeed, I have not been privy to the many roles and risk that people take for partisan purposes. But one thing I am fully convinced about is that none of these massive shows of fanaticism are informed by sheer patriotism, altruism or just the fun of it. I am indeed, certain that the undergirding principles is an inordinate personal interest which fuels expectations.

RECOMMENDATION

What I have not seen Politicians do well is to manage the expectations of their constituents. Rather than provide pragmatic solutions to problems, they master the act of heightening expectations with reckless and needless promises.

Arresting or effectively managing the needless and reckless tensions that characterize elections will be key if the menace of monetization in our politics is to be reduced. I am inclined to believe that some of these political apparatchiks manipulates the elections atmosphere at a fever-pitch tempo in order to assert their relevance.

But whatever be the case why should elections should not always send shivers down the spines of people. It should never be a justification for corruption and financial malfeasance. Indeed, it should not be the reasons why Children, the poor and other vulnerable entities in societies must bear the negative brunt.

To avert these dangers Politician and Key political players must find pragmatic ways of not only solving pressing social challenges but also managing the expectations that they heighten during politically charged electioneering periods.

If Politicians fails to avoid empty promises that result into unfeasible expectations then they should forget about remedying the paradigm of monetization of Politic in the country.

Samuel Osarfo Boateng.

samuelcreasta@gmail.com

233541842198.

PLACARDS IN DEMONSTRATIONS,WHAT STAKEHOLDERS MUST LEARN

Two weeks has not pass and the country has been hit by two major demonstrations, all at the behest of the leading opposition party in the country.

These demonstrations have heavily been predicated  on the almost bleary and erratic nature of our    power supply and its attendant effects on Ghanaian businesses and workers at large; alleged corrupt tendencies of state officials; economic mismanagement, many but to mention the most pressing. 

The factors that have precipitated these two mammoth demonstrations in two major regional capitals, Accra and Kumasi are not news to me as evidence regarding most of the claims by the protestors abounds. Indeed, if for nothing at all I have a first-hand experience on the level of discomfort the erratic supply of energy is rendering my neighbors and myself.

 What has particularly   intrigued me about these two demonstrations are that placards on which most of the displeasure have been communicated.

Not only do I get amused by some of these placards, more so some of them get me into deep thoughts and reflections.

While some are poignant and thought-provoking, others are clearly caustic and abrasive, ones that do not auger well for our democracy, peace and national development.

I hasten to intimate that both of our major political parties are all culpable as far as wielding unhealthy placards are concern. In fact, I will always parry attempts by one to create the impression that they have not dabbled in placard politics which is somewhat injurious to the peace of the country.

Following these two events, there have been concerns about the kinds of placards that some of the demonstrators wielded. As usual, the positions regarding the appropriateness or otherwise of these placards have been varying depending on the political leanings of those who have opted to comment on the issue in the media.

As to be expected social media has been a buzzed with images of some of these placards, comments following which have not been healthy for the democratic credentials of the country.

TRIBALISM

While these political banters can be condoned as it has usually been the modus-operandi of some of these political opportunists, a disturbing twist, spin and trend which is unfortunately characterizing these debate raises cause for alarm. The attempt by these political players to rope ethnocentric sentiments into these debates is most disheartening in my estimation.

Ethnocentric comments which have been alleged to dominate some of these placards is disturbing and efforts aimed at arresting the proclivity must be pursued by all stakeholders.

On social media, yesterday, there were pictures purporting to be examples of the ethnocentric comments that were communicated with placards.

Additionally, most of the post demonstration interviews that were granted in most of the mainstream media, particularly radio,  had given much premium to those placards which were being bandied around on social media, a development which I thought was equally unpalatable.

As expected, the leadership of the demonstrators flatly denied seeing any of those placards among demonstrators, claiming further that their accusers had generated those pictures with the aid of Photo-Shop.

While I am still torn between which sides of the divide to fall for, I think what is important to me in this piece to condemn in no uncertainty terms the recklessness in roping ethnocentric sentiments into these demonstrations.

What I see in this development is a case of having one party either initiating the process or the other advertising same. As opportunist as these two are, I am left with no option than to criticize both parties for seeking political points with  a sensitive issue like ethnicity.

I am also unable to absolve the media of culpability in this whole mess, key as their role in emphasizing the development has been. By appearing to give much attention and somewhat dignifying development the media has invariably given more credence to the issue. I thought the media could have avoided this as much attention  signals  the level of seriousness to which the populace  should attach to the issue.(Refer to the AGENDA SETTING THEORY).

In Rwanda, the continuous emphasis on ethnocentric comments courtesy the Rwanda media led to a dreadfully-horrendous civil war between the Hutsi and Tutsi. I allude to the Rwandan genocide with chill-feelings looking at the level of human and socio-economic atrocities the development engendered.

It is to this extent that I condemn the continuous attentiveness of the media to the supposed ethnocentric placards debates

RECOMMENDATIONS

In Ghana we have always cherished our rich cultural diversities. It has been the source of strength. We have attended schools with people across religious, ethnic political and socio-economic divide without any difficulties. We work in environment where all those clear ethnic divides exists. Our churches are made up of all different ethnic groups.If we can cope in all these social context,why cant we do that in politics?

The 1992 constitution has voluminous steeped our cultural diversity in law, making it illegal for anyone or group of persons to be discriminated on the basis of their  color, gender, tribe, religion or political affiliation.

In effect, one is not required morally but the binding force of law compels all of us not to dabble in ethnocentric tendencies.

It is in the light of the above that I call on  the Media and Political parties to avoid ethnocentric tendencies for whatever  interests therein. 

Given the dangers ethnocentrism can court for the country, I call on the media to discharge its gate keeping role effectively by shielding any information or interviews that can feed into ethnocentrism.

Political parties and their apparatchiks are also cautioned to be temperate and modest in this respect as doing otherwise can plague the country into a horrendous state of affairs.

Political leadership should find avenues of preventing the use of some of those placards when found to be inimical to our peace and our democratic consolidation.

Ghana is for Ghanaians, not for any tribe

Ethnocentrism can only be a crime

Let’s avoid this;political clime

Togetherness, lets, Subscribe.

By the way, I wish to share some of the placards that got me laughing. It never means I endorse the comments, though.

Samuel Osarfo Boateng

samuelcreasta@gmail.com