Principled politicians cannot survive in Ghana – NCCE Boss

Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Josephine Nkrumah has described the country’s practice of democracy as a sham.

According to her, the process of appointing and electing leaders in the country taints the reputation of individuals who put themselves up for election even before they get into office.

“Delegates accept money before they endorse a parliamentary candidate. So the Parliamentary candidate who you see most likely has already besmeared his hands or her hands because you had to pay money to a delegate to get to that position…the average politician coming into the sphere of politics in Ghana today is already tainted. Why would you borrow money to go into politics,” she quizzed rather worryingly.

Assessing Ghana’s democracy since 1992, the NCCE Boss said, the system is characterized by ‘politicastars’ who take advantage of the system to amass wealth for themselves.

“People who support political campaigns look at it as an investment. They are the political entrepreneurs; so once you come into power, it is time for you to pay [back]. Sometimes the hands of people who were right thinking and principled are already tied [by the time they win power],”she said.

Expressing her frustration on how politically polarized the country has become, the NCCE Chairman said, the winner takes all provision in the 1992 constitution is a contributing factor to the polarization.

“The practice of winner takes all promotes and enables a system where only a few people at the top enjoy the country’s resources, they amass wealth for themselves to the detriment of those in opposition the whole country” she noted

In her view, there is the need for a systematic overhaul and a review of the constitution.

“We need to take the constitutional reforms seriously and citizens must begin to demand for accountability, we all are in the civil service and there is a certain amount of money  we all take so how can someone just enter politics and within 4 years build 2 to 3 mansions, it is not possible” she said.