Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has indicated that unchecked partisanship is Ghana’s greatest barrier to progress, greater than historical conflicts. He illustrates how partisanship damages national institutions and emphasizes a need for Ghanaians to reclaim their identity and focus on collective interests rather than party loyalty. He concludes with an appeal for unity and integrity among citizens to advance Ghana’s development.
Renowned legal scholar and political analyst, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has articulated that unchecked partisanship represents the most significant hindrance to Ghana’s development, transcending the historical challenges of colonialism and military coups. In a compelling statement commemorating Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary, he underscored the nation’s resilience amidst adversity yet emphasized that today’s foremost enemy is the pervasive division caused by partisanship, which undermines national institutions.
Kwaku Azar explained that this entrenched partisanship has severely impaired national unity, leading to the prioritization of party allegiance over competence and the collective national interest. He contended that Ghana’s political environment resembles a battleground, wherein the aim has shifted from fostering national development toward achieving absolute dominance by political factions.
The scholar lamented that citizens have grown increasingly devoted to their political parties at the expense of national pride, stating, “We have become more loyal to parties than to our country. In doing so, we have weakened our democracy, compromised our future, and betrayed the very independence our forebears fought for.” He further expressed concern regarding the shift in perceptions of corruption, now widely accepted when it involves one’s party.
Kwaku Azar highlighted the adverse impacts of partisanship on several key institutions:
– Judiciary: Courts are now swayed by political interests instead of delivering unbiased justice.
– Media: Some outlets have morphed into instruments for political propaganda rather than fulfilling their role to inform the public.
– Civil Service: Employment decisions are affected more by party connections than by merit, requiring civil servants to receive neutrality allowances to maintain objectivity.
– Parliament: Lawmakers have shifted focus from genuine policy debates to protecting partisan interests, hindering national progress.
– Church and Academia: Some leaders in these spheres have sacrificed impartiality for partisan perspectives.
– Security Services: Institutions designed to safeguard citizens are misemployed for political enforcement.
– Student Activism: The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), once a unifying force, now stands divided along political lines.
He cautioned that this rampant partisanship is particularly detrimental as it causes successive governments to discard previous initiatives without regard for their merit. Additionally, it diverts interests from national development toward political motivations where reelection supersedes genuine solutions.
To address the perils of partisanship, Kwaku Azar encouraged Ghanaians to rediscover their collective identity and commitment to the nation. His recommendations include prioritizing national interest over party allegiance, upholding integrity in leadership, reforming political institutions to reduce partisan influence, conducting judicial reforms to restore faith in the justice system, and collectively opposing corruption, irrespective of political affiliations.
He concluded with a profound reminder: “History will judge us not by how fiercely we defended our parties, but by how boldly we defended our nation.” He invoked the themes of historical unity, encouraging citizens to harness the same patriotism that fueled past victories against colonialism and dictatorship, affirming, “We have proven before that when we stand together for a cause greater than ourselves, we win. The choice is ours. The time is now. Happy 68th Independence Anniversary, Ghana!”
In summary, Professor Kwaku Azar has profoundly articulated that partisan divisions pose the greatest threat to Ghana’s progress, eclipsing historical challenges such as colonialism and political instability. Through addressing the detrimental impact of partisanship on crucial institutions and advocating for a unified national identity, he calls upon Ghanaians to prioritize integrity and national interest above party loyalty. His insights echo a rallying cry for collective action toward restoring unity and purpose in pursuit of Ghana’s development.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
