Sustaining The Momentum

It appears many Ghanaians are losing interest in vote. The cynics among them have always asked what their reward would be after, in their own words, �voting one of their compatriots to power.� They add, �When they get to the top they think about themselves only.� It is sufficient cynicism about how indifferent such persons are towards matters about elective office and above all, their disdain for politics. The legal wrangling over the authenticity of the December 7 polls is providing a dangerous impetus for such persons to turn their backs on politics, thereby preparing the stage for bad men to seek elective political office, relying on only a few people. Things changed in the December 7 polls as evidenced from the unprecedented turnout at the polling stations; something which suggested doubtlessly that they were seeking change in the political order. It was the result of painstaking education of the electorate by the political parties. Unless we want the civic education we imparted to this set of Ghanaians to go waste, we must consider working towards encouraging the now discouraged Ghanaians to maintain their hope in the ballot box. We shudder to think what the effects of a mindset that �elections are about manoeuvring to outsmart your political opponents through crooked means such as the manipulation of figures�, would be on our democracy and the future of our country. One of the ways of changing the attitude of such persons to politics is to play neat elections devoid of the politics of devilish riggings. Above all, the ground rules should be clear and unambiguous in the midst of strong and workable state institutions. That is the way to go for a politically better Ghana. Failure to restore such confidence would be dealing a fatal blow to democracy and playing into the hands of the minority who would rather military dictatorship is the order. The demoralized Ghanaians now heading for the fence need to be assured that their votes would be protected and not subjected to the whims and caprices of insincere politicians who, because they control the reins of power, erroneously and perilously think they can cling on to it by destroying the confidence in elections. The confidence that they can oust their governments not through the barrel of the gun but their thumbs is sufficient bulwark against dictatorships and other non-democratic systems of governance. Yet, those who are in the forefront of ensuring the decency of politics, especially elections, are being hounded. History is replete with examples of the travails of those who raised their heads above the parapet to effect positive changes among their people.