<<Print>>

The present political climate will affect the election later in the year. Most Ghanaians want a fair and peaceful election. But we have to work at it now and improve the political climate. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana showed the way at its National Ministers� Conference in Kumasi in the New Year. The theme of the conference was �The Holy Spirit and the Believer�. But the church did not plant its footsteps in the skies. The conference began by considering the political environment in which the believer lived which affected many aspects of his or her life. The conference started its main business with a symposium on the �Political Climate of Ghana: Election 2012�. The symposium generated a lively and useful discussion after the meeting. It was then that the national secretary assisting the moderator asked why Ghanaians, especially politicians, found it difficult to say �I am sorry�. I did not agree with him but when he gave instances of explosive offensive utterances which could be brushed aside or forgotten with the apology �I am sorry�, I realised he had a case. In the tussle for political power, statements are made which would not stand careful scrutiny. Sometimes they offend and sour relations. A simple �I am sorry�. �I did not mean it that way.� will set tensions at bay. Often, however, we maintain our position and supporters advance spurious arguments which pollute the political atmosphere. At election time, they may lead to riots which may disturb the peace and precipitate violent action. The Presbyterians Minister was right; we should learn to say �I am sorry�. The idea that we are always right in utterances should be expunged from the political armoury of the bona fide politician. It is only a fool who does not make slips or get things wrong. Government statements used to pass through many official hands before issued in the past. Once, President Nkrumah was instructing me on a course of action. I interrupted him and said, �Osagyefo, last week you said �� he interrupted me; he knew what I was going to say. He said � Asante , only a fool does not change his mind.� I looked at him. He gave me a nod. I did what he said and unscrambled all that I had done on the previous instructions. Not all our politicians can change their mind so easily even in private encounters. That is why they should weigh their words carefully. That is why they should normally request the Civil Service machinery to draft statements before issue. If the Service cannot produce drafts which critics do not find ridiculous then there is something wrong with the civil or public service and thus should be set right. It goes without saying that young politicians without experience and who are not exceptionally bright should not be allowed to answer criticisms or issue information hand outs. Our governments should refrain from appointing deputy ministers and advisers who do not have much to do than to issue statements and talk. Not all opposition criticisms should be answered directly. Experience has shown that a Ghanaian administration which does not normally determine the public agenda soon loses its grip on public issues. Officials should know which criticisms to ignore and which should be answered and how. If we want a peaceful election and good governance without undue rancour, governments and opposition politicians should ensure that their officials and collaborators do their work well. Recent strikes or threats of strikes about �migration to the single spine� to me, betray incompetence by government administrators. Even where errors have not been made, explanations left much to be desired. I hold the view which I applied as a Senior Official that when a thoughtful cause of action goes awry, those who administer it have a lot to answer. The opposition�s darts should be anticipated. I, however, find that these days, a lot of trouble is caused by ignorant people in high places. All Ghanaians should see to it that good sense and competence prevail until and after the election. Peace is then more assured. Dr Amakye Boateng of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology gave a scholarly presentation at the Presbyterian Ministers� symposium on the political climate and the election. He touched on the changing political climate since independence and thereby exposed the lessons which might be learnt. Practices which influence the climate and which may undermine a peaceful election were surveyed. The young representative of The Dispatch presented a brilliant paper giving practical examples of the concerns of Dr Boateng. I cannot do justice to the two papers merely from what I heard. I hope that the Presbyterian Church will give some publicity to the two contributions to help discussions on the forthcoming election. It was a pity that there was not enough time for discussion and consensus at the symposium. I had the honour of being invited to the symposium. I held the view that prospects for a successful election were good. I, however, suggested that the social climate was a problem. The climate is at the moment generally slanted against the normally accepted social and moral values. Corruption is becoming normal at all levels of society and success is marked by the acquisition of worldly goods. Service to the community and State is not the main aim of many who seek political office. Membership and contribution to a political party have become investments which mature when the party wins. �Veranda Boys� in the old CPP days went on errands to distant places without even asking for payment of transport. Today, the �foot soldiers� expect jobs to be given to them when the party wins just as the party big wigs expect posts or lucrative contracts. There will always be those who do things for money. But unless we get a sizeable group who go into politics to modify the social and economic order and thereby improve lives for the people, democracy in Ghana will degenerate into a talking and insulting shop and an election would be a crucial time to maintain or change personal and group fortune. We were lucky that good sense prevailed at the last election despite the narrowness of the majority. Our leaders then displayed maturity. Let us hope that this time around, they will maintain similar probity despite pressures from their supporters.