<<Print>>

The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, says the spate at which Ghanaian leaders personalise politics in the country is a major contributing factor to the underdevelopment of the nation. He chastised politicians in Ghana who personalise developmental policies, saying the four year mandate of the President would only become relevant if time is not wasted on over personalising development issues. He also urged politicians to stop worshiping the President and focusing so much on their political parties but rather fulfil their core mandate of bettering the life of the electorate. According to him, developmental policies meant for the entire nation have become properties of political parties who pick and choose which parts to implement. Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II said development in most parts of the country has come to a standstill because the citizens do not feel part of policies initiated by current and previous governments. The renowned chief lamented the ineffectiveness of state institutions that are supposed to ensure essential policies are properly implemented. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bernard Avle, host of the Citi Breakfast Show, he said Ghana would only progress and catch up with other countries if leaders care more about the people of the country and stop their selfish attitudes. �We cannot re-invent the wheel; we cannot wait two hundred and fifty years to get to where they (USA) have gotten to, they have a system and a model there, they (USA) have built strong institutions. If we do not personalise politics in this country the four years is adequate because you have strong institutions and the people who come to run, come in with a heart full of grace and so are ready to serve their nation. �We don�t, we come in with personal aggrandization and so in four years instead of thinking of our nation we think about ourselves and our parties but once we change that then the four years is relevant. �You come in, do what you can and then continue because you cannot break the institutions; you cannot personalise policies. Here we worship our president and our parties and it is not going to work like that�.