Bright Simons, the Honorary Vice President of IMANI Africa, expressed his frustration with the challenges faced by public policy analysts and activists in Ghana, attributing much of the difficulty to what he described as the “Kwaku Ananse” style of political governance.
According to Simons, this approach to governance creates an environment that is not only complex but also exhausting and disheartening for those advocating for change and accountability.
He went on to highlight a specific example of the opaque nature of the political system, pointing out that Members of Parliament (MPs) often claim to receive “car loans,” but these loans are subject to interest and are deducted directly from their salaries, leaving little room for transparency or clarity in the process.
This, Simons noted, is part of a broader culture of governance that lacks openness and often frustrates those working to promote policies that serve the public good.
“Even high-ranking MPs will parrot this knowing very well that they are hiding essential aspects of the matter from the public when they put it like that.
“They won’t disclose that 60% of the loan is covered by Parliament and 40% is provided below market-rate”.
Bright Simons
Simons further questioned the rationale behind the current system, suggesting that it would be more efficient and transparent to do away with the pretentious arrangement altogether.
He proposed that the Parliamentary Service should simply purchase vehicles for MPs, strictly for their official use, and for the duration of their term in office.
This approach, he argued, would eliminate the complexities and inefficiencies tied to the current car loan system, making the process more straightforward and in line with principles of accountability.
Simons also speculated on why the status quo persists, noting that there might be one primary reason behind it.
He pointed out that the car dealerships benefiting from the current arrangement could be a significant factor in maintaining the system.
By keeping the status quo, these dealerships would continue to secure lucrative deals, thus creating a vested interest in ensuring the continuation of the current system despite its flaws.
This, he suggested, might be why efforts to reform the system have been slow or non-existent.
Transparency Urged in Procurement Processes
Furthermore, Bright Simons pointed out that the selection process for car dealerships and the procedures governing their involvement in providing vehicles to MPs are, to his knowledge, never made public.
He expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding this matter, noting that the public remains largely unaware of how these dealerships are chosen or the criteria used for their selection.
He emphasized that this lack of openness raises questions about accountability and fairness, particularly when such arrangements involve public funds.
Simons further stressed that Parliament, as the people’s chambers, should be held to a higher standard of transparency, ensuring that its operations, including any procurement processes, are subject to public scrutiny.
This, he argued, is crucial for maintaining trust in the institution and for upholding the principles of democratic governance.
“Any attempt to ensure accountability at any level of government in Ghana is constantly frustrated. Because the public has never seen real accountability at work, few have developed the taste for it. Few truly understand what they are missing as citizens.
“Hence, activists that push the envelope find that they cannot mobilize enough public interest momentum to overcome the entrenched resistance of these public overlords who insist we must call them ‘public servants.’ Talk of Orwellian!”
Bright Simons
Accordingly, He expressed that the deeper his understanding of the scale of the issue grows, the more disheartened he feels about the future of public policy activism in Ghana.
Simons indicated that this sense of discouragement stems from the systemic challenges and lack of transparency that persist within the political landscape.
READ ALSO: AstraZeneca Pulls £450M Investment in Major Setback
