Managing
Expectations: What Hon. Doe Adjaho’s Famous Speech Didn’t Capture
Background
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corp
on Wednesday 25th 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.
Toilet 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?
·
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.
·
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.
notwithstanding, Ghana’s Jubilee field continued with a strong performance in the first half of 2015, Operators, Tullow Oil have said.
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