Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), says the seeming lack of confidence in democracy occasioned by the conduct of the political class is “a dangerous development”.
Mr Agyapong said the practice where people went for political office with the aim of amassing wealth at the expense of the masses had gradually weaned the people’s confidence in democratic rule.
Speaking on a news programme monitored by the Ghana News Agency, he said the leadership of the country must accept responsibility for the situation and work towards restoring confidence in the political system.
“We have progressively damaged the confidence that people have in democracy and that is a very dangerous development because leaders after leaders or governments after governments have not satisfied the Ghanaian people.
“So we have to engage the people in a very productive way...we are not happy where we are,” Mr Agyepong said.
While condemning the practice of vote-buying that has characterised the country’s electoral system, he called on political parties to institute reforms that could discourage aspirants from dispensing money to the electorate for votes.
“Let’s talk to the electorate not to mortgage their future. Your Future is not for sale. We should look at quality leadership and people who have the country at heart.
“We are virtually poisoning the political base and that is what worries me,” Mr Agyepong said.
He urged young people not to lose confidence in the country, rather support and participate in the political process and help to improve the system.
Mr Agyepong said governance and development issues that had bedevilled the country could not be blamed on the Constitution but on bad leadership.
He bemoaned what he described as the lack of patriotism and readiness to serve among the political class and the people at large, saying: “We need the kind of leaders that are prepared to take difficult decisions and so that all of us will be doing what is right; putting our country first before everything.”
“The Constitution for me is not the problem, but the way we lead our country; the values that we have and the fact that our moral fibre has become decadent in this country over the last 30-40 years.
“Political leadership should look at the collective, look at what to do for the betterment of our country because we have become very populist people and sometimes we say things just to play to the gallery,” Mr Agyepong said.
Source: GNA
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Well said, Ghanaians have lost confidence and trust in democracy. Democracy itself is not bad, rather the people who hold the trust and confidence reposed in them are the problem. It's like the easiest way to make money in Ghana is through politics. From MMDCEs, to MP's, to ministers, deputy ministers, CEO's, presidential staffers, to Vice President and finally to president. Fact is that we stay in the communities with all these people so we know them and they themselves know we know them. How come someone who was staying in a chamber and hall room in a family house or rented house, some couldn't even afford a motorcycle or a set of decent furniture not to talk of a home used or second hand car. Within a matter of 48 months you see such people becoming owners of mansions, V8's and dishing money around. Why won't people see them as looters. Why will medical doctors, university professors, engineers, lawyers, accountants, teachers, nurses all clamor to join politics? Why? What is making politics so attractive in Ghana such that people are ready to kill to win power. A former MP is reported to have said that he knows people who used to come to parliament to beg for GHC 100.00 . Today these beggars have suddenly become millionaires because they are now ministers and CEO's. No wonder people don't even listen to them when they speak. Those who know them very well laugh at them when they appear on TV screens. This is how far so called politicians in Ghana have brought democracy to its knees. Why will we pay exgratia to a category of people every 48 months. Why will the taxpayer foot 60% of the cost of V 8 vehicles for MP's . If you want a V8, buy your own. Who's money are they using to pay for exgratia and V8's.? Why will the taxpayer fund the cost of exgratia and V8 to politicians when we still have schools under trees, lack of potable water, roads filled with potholes, lack of beds in some health facilities, people sit on plastic chairs to receive drips in some hospitals due to lack of beds. How do you feel as a minister or MP when you ride in a V8 to visit communities whose taxes are what you are enjoying. Thus Ghanaians have come to know politicians as a group of greedy, selfish, self centered, inward looking, empty pride group of people who represents nobody but themselves. This can be dangerous going forward.