In a scathing critique of the perceived ostentatious display of power prevalent among Ghana’s political and public officeholders, Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for a reevaluation of the country’s political culture.
With keen insight, Professor Prempeh challenged the status quo, bemoaning the perceived ostentatious displays of authority that have become all too common among Ghana’s political and public officials.
Citing examples of his interactions with high-ranking officials across the African continent, Professor Prempeh highlighted the stark contrast between their modest approach to public service and the extravagant displays of authority witnessed in Ghana.
The Executive Director of CDD-Ghana’s observations shed light on a troubling trend within Ghanaian politics, which according to him includes the excessive use of militarized bodyguards and a sense of entitlement among public officials.
He questioned the necessity of such displays, asking why civilian officers require armed escorts and elaborate shows of force in their everyday routines.
Drawing on personal experiences, including encounters with Cabinet-level officials in other African countries driving themselves to meetings without any security entourage, Professor Prempeh bemoaned what he described as the absurdity of Ghana’s current political landscape.
“I have (and have had) a few friends in high office in African countries outside Ghana; they are Ministers, judges (some chief justices), MPs, et cetera. None rides or carries about in their everyday routine with the kind of militarized bodyguards and show of force that has become the norm here for all manner of civilian public officers.
“How did we become so obsessed with the kind of visible, over-the-top trappings of power that is now routine in this Fourth Republic? Why must our high and not-so-high public officers move around with all that show of armed force? And why can’t they follow the traffic?”
Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh
Central to Professor H. Kwesi Prempeh’s argument is the notion that political entitlement must be actively discouraged in Ghana.
He emphasized that instead of perpetuating a culture of privilege and impunity, public officials should be held to account for their actions and encouraged to prioritize the needs of the people over personal aggrandizement.
Calls for Accountability
Moreover, Professor Prempeh underscored the need for political and public officers to embrace humility and accountability in their roles, emphasizing that the trappings of power should not serve as a substitute for genuine leadership.
He also noted that instead of political and public officers priding themselves in a fortress of armed guards and garrisons, they should be willing to engage with the public on equal terms, acknowledging their duty to serve as stewards of the people’s trust.
It is important to add that Professor H. Premepeh’s lamentations reflect broader concerns about the gradual erosion of democratic principles in Ghana.
His assertion that the proliferation of armed guards and garrisons outside officials’ homes represents a regression towards authoritarianism strikes a chord in a country that prides itself on its democratic credentials.
Professor Prempeh’s call for the disincentivization of political and public office in Ghana makes sense, particularly for a country that is grappling with an alarming corruption, perceived abuse of power and a widening gap between the ruling class and ordinary citizens.
His impassioned plea for a reevaluation of Ghana’s political culture serves as a wake-up call to all citizens and political leaders.
It is time for political elites to heed Professor Premepeh’s call and that of many well-meaning Ghanaians and commit themselves to serving the public good, rather than indulging in displays of privilege and entitlement.
By rejecting the trappings of power and embracing a culture of humility and accountability, Ghana can reaffirm its status as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
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