Prof. Ransford Gyampo, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, has emphasized that Ghana’s democracy and peace will not be destroyed solely by the actions of those who work against them but, more critically, by the inaction of those who remain silent and passive observers.
He argued that refusing to take a stand in the vital struggle for the preservation of democracy and the pursuit of good governance—governance that delivers tangible developmental outcomes evident in the daily lives of citizens—is itself a deliberate choice.
Such silence, Prof. Gyampo noted, is as consequential as direct action, as it enables the erosion of democratic principles and accountability, thereby jeopardizing national progress and stability.
“It is essentially a silent acquiescence to evil politics that benefits only the political elites, their family, friends, and concubines.
“The tragedy of our time is that those who can do well in governing, do not have the fire, resources, and confidence to stand up to confront the current political elites in elections. But those who are incompetent are the ones who have the fire, confidence, and resources to attempt to lie their way to power”.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo
Prof. Ransford Gyampo firmly asserted that he refuses to remain silent if maintaining peace in Ghana means ignoring systemic injustices and questionable governance practices.
He criticized the manipulation of institutions to subvert justice, highlighting how such actions undermine the very fabric of democracy and accountability.
He pointed to specific examples of alleged misuse of public resources, including the expenditure of $58 million to dig a massive hole under the pretext of constructing a National Cathedral.
The political scientist also lamented the allocation of $3 million for 200 drones to combat illegal mining (galamsey), with only three drones reportedly accounted for, and the spending of $12 million on a proposed dam in Pwalugu that remains unbuilt.
Prof. Gyampo emphasized that staying silent in the face of such glaring issues would amount to complicity, and he is determined to speak out to demand accountability and justice for the betterment of the nation.
Gyampo Denounces Governance Failures
Furthermore, Prof. Ransford Gyampo declared that he cannot and will not remain silent in a country where glaring financial and governance issues persist unchecked.
He criticized the government’s decision to allocate GHC 34 billion to resolve a banking sector crisis initially valued at 6 billion cedis, describing it as a significant mismanagement of resources that warrants scrutiny and accountability.
He also lamented the damaging effects of excessive partisanship, which he argued has rendered even highly educated individuals incapable of rational political discourse, instead driving them to adopt extreme and irrational political positions.
“[If peace means keeping my mouth shut in a country] where the constitution has made the executive president a political king kong; where we are hastily commissioning not too completed projects for the purposes of getting votes without being receptive to learning about its punishing consequences on electoral fortunes; where we are scraping the surfaces of roads to create the impression that we are fixing/constructing them, knowing very well we won’t be able to complete them, [I won’t keep quiet today, and tomorrow too]”
Prof. Ransford Gyampo
The political scientist observed with concern how politics is used as a tool to exploit and manipulate the poor, compelling them to defend the very political elites whose actions are often the root cause of their poverty.
He highlighted the troubling reality where, despite widespread hardship, soaring living costs, and pervasive hunger, the vulnerable are bribed with meager amounts of ten cedis and small quantities of rice to create an illusion of contentment, loudly proclaiming that “all is well” even when it is not.
Accordingly, Prof. Gyampo passionately reiterated that he cannot condone such practices and refuses to remain silent in the face of these injustices.
He stressed that his commitment to truth and justice outweighs any desire for a superficial peace built on silence and complicity.
For him, true peace must be rooted in fairness, accountability, and the empowerment of the marginalized, and he vowed to continue speaking out today, tomorrow, and beyond.
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