A call for Paradigm shift in Governance in Ghana

Culture change is a hurdle all will need to confront and overcome in organisations and nations as a whole. Society and incumbency abhor change, but it is inevitable for progress. And governance of Ghana needs a paradigm shift, not to be stereotype of another country, but unique for sustainable competitive advantage in the global village. It is an established fact that organisations do not necessarily achieve sustainable competitive advantage by building barriers, but the uniqueness of its resources, tacit knowledge, skill and innovation of its management are essential to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. I have a question for the old existing parties and its old-guards as a whole. What fresh will New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), offer Ghana in the midst of the existing leadership, management, economic and socio-political culture in Ghana beyond 2008? And to the old-guards or serving ministers in the New Patriotic Party, what will either do differently from what the present government or administration has done? If any minister has any innovative direction to offer but did not put it to assist the present administration to improve the lot of our people and develop Ghana, then such a fellow is not fit to rule or lead our nation. And if all of them will come to continue but the rot in the present paradigm, then also such one will do us no good. For the two parties that have been in government, I think they lack the needed innovation and courage to bring the desired paradigm shift in Ghana. I am hopeful our media will begin to call our sitting members of parliament, appointed executives and ministers and question them along these lines for us to see their competencies and the reason why they will have to be re-voted, re-nominated, re-appointed or continue in office.

The maverick Kofi Wayo said it rightly that our present government allows us to talk, but will have nothing to do with the suggestions or inputs. I remember in those days one minister was noted saying “We have heard all you are saying, but we will not take it” I remember personally hearing Serlomey of blessed memory saying to Kwame Mpianin on his suggestions in GTV discussion “when you come into power, you implement them” This has been the practice of the present administration, it falls short in heeding and acting on the counsels of the public. The good people of Ghana who mean well for the country and Ghanaians cannot continued to be ignored. We cannot afford as a people to be left behind and treated as minors in this era of knowledge economies, when knowledge, skill and innovation is very vital for sustainable competitive advantage. Similarly from our districts to our municipalities, the crying and input of all who mean well for the people and the communities cannot be sidestepped. There is the urgent need of a dynamic national learning culture; reflected in our ability as a nation to acquire, adapt and constantly reflect our new knowledge. There is need for Ghanaians as a whole to think and act beyond the box, and the input of all well meaning Ghanaians from academia, professionals and the supposedly illiterates must be welcome. I have always bemoaned our land as we abound in individual achievers but poor team or national delivery, but for the Black Stars at the recent world cup.

Our social, political, economic and management culture needs to change and I cannot see any of the old-guards in NPP and NDC offering Ghana that. If my predictions are right, then NDC, rules itself out to manage Ghana from 2008 onwards, courtesy the re-election of former vice president Atta Mills. He had the opportunity to offer Ghanaians a better life, but failed to deliver. The NPP is yet to decide on its presidential candidate and have the hopefuls in Arthur Kennedy, Boakye Agyarko and Frimpong Boateng to be potentials in bringing the desirable paradigm shift. All the other presidential aspirants who have dined and flirted with the present administration are only out to continue with the existing status quo and therefore unacceptable for the good people of Ghana. Should any other than the above mentioned presidential aspirants get the nod of NPP; the good people of Ghana must reject the NPP in 2008. It is about changing the existing paradigm; we cannot continue to behold our people impoverished in the abundance of natural and requisite human capital in knowledge, skill and innovation, the vital requirements for sustainable competitive advantage. The roles of the members of parliament in their respective constituencies are not spelt clearly in the constitution. But these will have to be codified to enable constituents asses them, besides the talking and deliberations in parliament. We have to rise up to eradicate the prevailing money-cracy and also oratory bias nominations of parliamentary candidates. It is vital that roles be made clear, that constituents demand not from parliamentarians what is not within their reach but hold them accountable as expected.

The options available are the old Nkrumahist parties namely Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Peoples National Convention (PNC); Great Consolidated Party (GDPP) and the new parties namely Ghana National Party (GNP) and United Renaissance Party (URP). The CPP and PNC may be potentials but have a lot of old blood which are resistant to change most. The Democratic Front Party is full of old-guards from the NDC stock and therefore no good for the expected returns. The good people of Ghana will have to begin to reconsider therefore the GDPP, GNP and URP for 2008. The GDPP has proven to be non conformist and therefore can cause the desirable stir resulting in desirable paradigm shift, similar holds for GNP and URP. It may be undesirable to have new parties, but these are the probable candidates capable of championing the paradigm shift. It has be proven over in many firms or organisations when the import of someone from another industry, has brought the desired paradigm change. We as a people cannot fail to put at the helm of affairs in 2008, competent, innovative and courageous men and women that will bring the progress and development of Ghana, bequeathing us with unique social, economic, political, management and technological legacy that will ensure us sustainable competitive advantage.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.