Retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of the University of Cape Coast Governing Council, William Atuguba, has delivered a scathing critique of Ghana’s political system, accusing the country of departing significantly from democratic principle in favour of a culture defined by money and self-interest.
Speaking at a memorial lecture commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of the late Rt. Hon. Justice Daniel Francis Annan, held at the ultra-modern Auditorium in Parliament named after him, Justice Atuguba questioned whether Ghana’s political trajectory reflected the sacrifices parents made to educate their children.
“Ghana has departed in a large measure from the principle of true democratic adherence to the monetization of the political process. Is that why our parents sacrificed to send us to school? Come back and defraud them? Pay tricks. Buy”.
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
Politics Compared to a Business Transaction
Justice Atuguba drew a pointed comparison between political office and commercial exploitation, describing the current approach to politics as akin to purchasing a resource for maximum extraction rather than public service.
“The way it’s like a business now. It’s like somebody buying a timber concession. He has paid for it so he can exploit it to the maximum. That is the trend. And it’s despicable. And I emphasize that”.
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
He called for a deliberate shift away from this pattern, urging the country to begin turning toward better practices in how political power is pursued and exercised. “Better turnaround for the better. It’s important to start turning around for the better,” he said.
A Recommendation Rooted in D.F. Annan’s Legacy
During his remarks, Atuguba pointed to a specific book he believed held answers to the country’s political challenges, the biography titled Justice Daniel Francis Annan: In the Service of Democracy.
“Have you people read this book before? Have both the majority and the minority read this book? I want to know. If you have, keep to it. It’s the correct thing, the correct way to run this country”.
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
He expressed a wish that resources allowed him to distribute the book widely across the country, extending his recommendation to the highest levels of political leadership.
“Every MP should get this book. Every minister. Every President. And Vice President. Get this book. It will inoculate you. If you need inoculation from the vices of operation that have brought us to where we are today.”
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
By invoking Justice Daniel Francis Annan: In the Service of Democracy, Justice Atuguba tied his criticism of contemporary politics directly to the legacy of the man being honoured, suggesting that Annan’s example of principled public service offered a corrective to the trends he described as having taken hold of Ghana’s political culture.
Parliamentary Debates Driven by Party Supremacy
Turning his attention to Ghana’s parliamentary culture, Justice Atuguba criticised the tone of debates he had observed, arguing that they reflected a struggle for party dominance rather than genuine engagement with national interest.
“Our political system, now you look at it. I see the debates in parliament. I don’t see that it is a struggle over the national interest. It’s a struggle for party supremacy. Supremacy of the leadership of the party and the resultant benefits from it. That’s what I see”.
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of the UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
He described the cyclical nature of Ghana’s political competition, suggesting that opposition parties often operate with the singular aim of undermining the government in power in order to reclaim office and its associated benefits.
“It’s like a tug of war at all times. NDC comes to power, the sole objective of NPP is to pull them down and come back to power, and share the goodies of the office. That’s the trend. At least that’s what I see”.
A retired Supreme Court Justice and Chairman of UCC Governing Council, William Atuguba
Despite his sharp criticism, Justice Atuguba maintained a note of cautious optimism, indicating that the situation remained recoverable, while acknowledging the passing of a colleague who shared his perspective.
Honouring the Legacy of Justice D.F. Annan
Beyond his commentary on contemporary politics, Justice Atuguba used the occasion to reflect on the life and contributions of the late Justice Daniel Francis Annan, whom he described as a man of commitment and integrity with genuine concern for the country.
He highlighted Annan’s passion for his work, particularly his involvement in drafting the 1992 Constitution and the Act establishing the Parliamentary Service. The memorial lecture drew a significant gathering of dignitaries, reflecting the regard in which the late Justice Annan continues to be held within Ghana’s political and legal circles.
The event was attended by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, along with Ministers of State, former and current Members of Parliament, traditional leaders and representatives of key national institutions.
Other notable attendees included First Deputy Speaker Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, Second Deputy Speaker Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, Majority Leader Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Deputy Majority Leader Hon. George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Clerk to Parliament Mr Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, and Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.
Part of a Broader National Conversation
Justice Atuguba’s remarks arrive shortly after Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin issued his own warning about the financialisation of politics across Africa, cautioning that democracy on the continent is backsliding as money increasingly defines political success.
Speaking at the High-Level Regional Convening on the Financialisation of Politics in Africa, held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, Speaker Bagbin argued that when money becomes the primary measure of political success, public office ceases to function as a public trust and instead becomes an investment to be recovered.
Speaker Bagbin’s remarks pointed to opaque campaign financing, vote buying and state capture as forces eroding public confidence and pushing citizens away from political participation altogether, concerns that closely echo the themes Justice Atuguba raised during his own address.
Taken together, the remarks from both Justice Atuguba and Speaker Bagbin suggest a growing convergence of concern among senior figures within Ghana’s judicial and legislative institutions regarding the direction of the country’s political culture.
Whether these warnings translate into meaningful reform remains to be seen, but their timing, delivered within the same period and touching on remarkably similar themes, signals that the conversation around money’s influence over Ghanaian politics is gaining renewed attention at the highest levels of public life.
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