Fantastically backward?

The Western World’s lack of frankness with Africa is one of the greatest wrongs of our times. Suffice it to say that colonialism in all its extremes is nowhere near it in terms of its adverse effects on Africa’s progress.

Frankness has somehow been compromised in the West’s relationship with Africa and with it has come a lot of developmental setbacks. The recent news of Cameron’s disclosure (or whisper?) to Queen Elizabeth about Nigeria’s “fantastically corrupt” political system calls for a deep introspection on the part of a somewhat mollycoddled Africa.

Africa definitely needs a sincere rethink of her priorities and practices as a continent. Before embarking on this crucial self-examination, she ought to bear in mind that this exercise will yield little fruits if her Western urgers withhold from her ears what she ought to hear.

Let Africa’s development partners and donors deal frankly with her and the development tangibles that have eluded them for long would finally be found and then quantified to their hearts’ delight.

Being an election year, 2016 is a momentous year in Ghana. And so the occupant of the Electoral Commissioner’s chair has once again become the subject of praise and flak alike on a daily basis. As you know, the praise is from the incumbent and the flak opposition.

It seems she has dutifully followed in the footsteps of her predecessors. She has received great commendations and bitter condemnations at the same time. These are no new things under the sun for her. She has not been so different from her predecessors in terms of initiatives and the criticisms engendered by the same. Or is there anything she has done in the name of reforms that has not been attempted before?

Except, perhaps, the introduction of a new logo and the hullabaloo it brought about. Or maybe the titular kind of restructuring that took place at her office? Like her predecessors, she has depended on government to give her the huge cash needed to conduct elections in a burgeoning democracy like hers.

The government, as usual, has in turn relayed the request to development partners like the EU. In characteristic fashion, these partners have promised to bear a huge part of the cost. After all, Africa (with her perennial development-threatening skirmishes) is in dire need of democracy and providing monetary and logistical assistance for her impartial electioneering machinery is a necessary course of action. If not for anything, this step can at least reduce the number of migrants and refugees who hazard their lives in small boats bound for European shores with hopes of securing better living conditions.

Elections became relevant the day humanity decided on the inappropriateness of leading a people because of the kind of blood that runs in an individual’s veins or the consanguineous privilege she enjoys. It seems as if this mechanism of electing national leaders means different things to different people around the world.

For some, elections basically entail a spirited contest of ideas. Over here, aspiring office holders debate on a number of issues and give a million reasons why their proffered solutions remain the open sesame for national greatness and economic prosperity. These folks believe that every election year comes with an opportunity to market new ways of nation-building.

As a result of this, colossal amounts of money and creative thinking go into convincing discerning electorates to buy into an idea or political strategy.

You hear a lot of interesting things on the campaign trail. Of course, rumours of scandals and foibles are not unexpected. Crimes committed and successfully covered for so many years suddenly develop wings and fly out into the limelight. In striking swiftness, the media catches them and with bliss, sensationalizes them to the delight and disgust of everyone.

Got any idea on what happens after this? Well, some gain electoral capital while those battered (in electoral terms) seek refuge in the image redemption PR services offered by highly paid publicists.

You cannot rule out the sensationalism carried to absurd extremes by the media. You cannot take away the nose-poking moves and the unfair prospecting for past flaws with the intention of aspersing a clean present. But there are some things you will never hear no matter how keenly you follow the various activities undertaken during electioneering campaigns in these countries.

Want some specifics? You will never hear the clergy expressing concern about an increased political tension, and thus appealing to political parties to let peace prevail. Talk of one million songs exhorting patriotic citizens to peace and unity in an election year and I guarantee you will hear none.

The songs you are likely to hear will be those meant for canvassing votes for candidates. You will not come across celebrities and so-called ambassadors of peace embarking on peace campaigns in the form of TV and radio commercials, music shows, peace conferences, sporting activities and a number of extravaganzas. The various media houses in these countries call on former presidents and living legends to know their take on the various political issues of a heated electioneering season.

Mind you, they don’t call on them to preach peace to the electorate; they call on them for their views which are recognized as anything but sacrosanct. These folks know that peace is priceless and nothing in the way of an election should jeopardize it.

There exists an inviolable social consensus that electoral disputes are arbitrated by courts of law, and not by tire-burning, machete-wielding young men “tsooobooing” their homicidal havoc on all who disagree with them. Awww…democracy in these countries is such a knockout. And the privilege it offers to all sane minds through the ballot box is simply amazing!

I am yet to come across elections in Mama Africa’s backyard that will be free of reminders (in songs and exhortations) about the destructive effects of electoral violence and conflicts. The actions and inactions of “yaanom” as they work to retain or capture power create a very negative impression of elections. An election is an occasion to make the country better and not to destroy it. An election offers the chance to hold national leaders accountable.

The chance to assess them and remind grasping leaders that they are not immune to incarceration. An election is an occasion to try out a new governance idea or improve upon an existing one for better results. It is a time to be optimistic, in fact, overly optimistic. A time when answers are demanded to pressing critical questions. It is not a time to be apprehensive or harbor the fear of social unrest.

It is not a time to beg political parties to put in structures aimed at curbing the violence emanating from their camps, rather, it is a time to hold “yaanom” responsible for the peace of the nation. An election season should not be a period of countless homilies on peace and unity. Hey! Wait a minute…what I am ‘discouraging’ has already begun in earnest.

The do-good celebrities have set the peace campaigns rolling. They are moving from place to place with the urgent message of political tolerance: “NDC and NPP are big brothers of the same aspiration. They shouldn’t fight just because they hold different views on how nation-building should be pursued.

This year’s elections should not upset the country’s prevailing peace”. These goodwill ambassadors are not alone in this seemingly worthy national pursuit. Those born celebrities, those who made themselves as such, and those made celebrities by the people have also joined the bandwagon of peace proclaimers. “Let peace prevail” seems to be the reigning shibboleth of this election season.

This desire to do good unto men by advising them not to kill themselves and their dreams is not peculiar to only personalities in the showbiz industry. Other individuals outside this industry have embarked (and will embark) on similar campaigns. After all, we are in an election year and hey, we cannot afford to be careless.

Yes, this is how far elections in Ghana have brought us. The unending cycle of hope renewed after elections and fear resurrected during elections. It seems we keep on enduring elections every four years. Is it not fair to rather enjoy elections and thus increase our democratic credentials and economic prospects within the comity of nations?

Why should the peace of Ghana be at risk because of the necessary process of elections? Or is it because we are fantastically backward? David Cameron should be frank with us this time around in the matter of our attitude towards elections.

He should shun the unhelpful attitude of whispering and boldly voice his candid views right in our hearing. Of course, he should be prepared to receive condemnation upon condemnation, even from his own Western colleagues. But trust me, we’d be a thousand times better for that!

Writer's e-mail: aca_education at yahoo