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15th March, 2010
YES, SIR, IT''S NOT ABOUT POWER
All over the continent of Africa, the demand of the citizenry, led by civil society, for accountability from governments continues to remain on top of the agenda.
Whereas in some countries peace has remained elusive even after more than a decade of futile attempts at its pursuit, we in Ghana have mercifully had a relatively long period of peace, save a few ethnic disturbances in some parts of the country.
Time was when, Ghana was the only island of peace in West Africa surrounded by nations at war.
Even today that is the fact. With the exception of a few skirmishes in some parts of the country, the Ghana story has not changed.
Also, in spite of the raised voices and clenched fists often in Parliament and in the media, mostly radio, the political divides of Ghana are mindful of the consequences of the absence of peace.
Thus to a large extent, both government and the Minority, or as some prefer to call them, the Opposition, deserve credit for the peace in the land, which is the envy of our neighbours.
In the prosecution of today’s development agenda, good governance has taken centre stage.
It is therefore, a perfect reminder to African leaders by President John Evans Atta Mills that they owe the younger generation a huge debt in securing a better future for them.
“It is not about power, and it is not how long you stay in power, but how to help improve the standard and quality of lives of the people you lead,” President Mills reminded his colleague African leaders.
President Mills made the assertion when he interacted with executives of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation led by Mr Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Good Governance Advocacy group, who called on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra on Friday.
He said African leaders could play their part by ensuring that the right environment was provided for effective national development through the creation of good governance and democracy.
The President’s call resonates with a similar reminder by the US President during his visit to Ghana last year, that if there was one thing Africa needed, it was strong institutions, not strong men.
President Mills is right: being in government is not about power. This is a timely reminder to all governments, especially those in Africa. The continent has had, and still has, too many leaders who love power for reasons other than helping their people out of needless poverty pains.
It is easy to tell that for many of them, the love of palatial mansions for Residence, the latest powerful, bullet-proof limousines just off the assembly-line, the sound of sirens whining ahead in convoys are the only attractions that either propels their decision to either run for office or stage the many coups d’etats.
Poor Africans! They are terrified by strong men; and that is why the strong men can shoot and shout their way into office and stay in power for as long as they wish to.
They know the people’s weakness, and they exploit it.
We agree with the President: it is not how long a ruler stays in office. There has been a case or two in Africa where the President’s bodyguard of elite troops were the best paid in the land: they had everything in a land whose regular army lacked everything.
Africa’s Heads of State need to be reminded that if Africa bleeds today, the greater proportion of the blame goes to the leaders.
For countries like Ghana and the few others where the rulers have learned to respect the ruled, the Times, on behalf of the long-suffering masses, propose a vote of thanks to civil society groups, especially the think tanks, the religious leaders, such as the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Christian Council, among others who, through their vigilance and defiance of the gun, have fought the good of conscience.
Whereas in some countries peace has remained elusive even after more than a decade of futile attempts at its pursuit, we in Ghana have mercifully had a relatively long period of peace, save a few ethnic disturbances in some parts of the country.
Time was when, Ghana was the only island of peace in West Africa surrounded by nations at war.
Even today that is the fact. With the exception of a few skirmishes in some parts of the country, the Ghana story has not changed.
Also, in spite of the raised voices and clenched fists often in Parliament and in the media, mostly radio, the political divides of Ghana are mindful of the consequences of the absence of peace.
Thus to a large extent, both government and the Minority, or as some prefer to call them, the Opposition, deserve credit for the peace in the land, which is the envy of our neighbours.
In the prosecution of today’s development agenda, good governance has taken centre stage.
It is therefore, a perfect reminder to African leaders by President John Evans Atta Mills that they owe the younger generation a huge debt in securing a better future for them.
“It is not about power, and it is not how long you stay in power, but how to help improve the standard and quality of lives of the people you lead,” President Mills reminded his colleague African leaders.
President Mills made the assertion when he interacted with executives of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation led by Mr Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Good Governance Advocacy group, who called on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra on Friday.
He said African leaders could play their part by ensuring that the right environment was provided for effective national development through the creation of good governance and democracy.
The President’s call resonates with a similar reminder by the US President during his visit to Ghana last year, that if there was one thing Africa needed, it was strong institutions, not strong men.
President Mills is right: being in government is not about power. This is a timely reminder to all governments, especially those in Africa. The continent has had, and still has, too many leaders who love power for reasons other than helping their people out of needless poverty pains.
It is easy to tell that for many of them, the love of palatial mansions for Residence, the latest powerful, bullet-proof limousines just off the assembly-line, the sound of sirens whining ahead in convoys are the only attractions that either propels their decision to either run for office or stage the many coups d’etats.
Poor Africans! They are terrified by strong men; and that is why the strong men can shoot and shout their way into office and stay in power for as long as they wish to.
They know the people’s weakness, and they exploit it.
We agree with the President: it is not how long a ruler stays in office. There has been a case or two in Africa where the President’s bodyguard of elite troops were the best paid in the land: they had everything in a land whose regular army lacked everything.
Africa’s Heads of State need to be reminded that if Africa bleeds today, the greater proportion of the blame goes to the leaders.
For countries like Ghana and the few others where the rulers have learned to respect the ruled, the Times, on behalf of the long-suffering masses, propose a vote of thanks to civil society groups, especially the think tanks, the religious leaders, such as the Catholic Bishops Conference, the Christian Council, among others who, through their vigilance and defiance of the gun, have fought the good of conscience.
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