Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, emphasized that unchecked partisanship poses the greatest threat to Ghana’s development, overshadowing historical struggles like colonialism. He called for a return to national unity, urging Ghanaians to prioritize the country over political allegiance and suggesting institutional reforms to restore integrity and accountability in governance. His passionate message serves as a rallying cry for collective progress and patriotism on Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary.
In a recent address reflecting on Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, widely recognized as Kwaku Azar, articulated that unchecked partisanship represents the foremost barrier to the nation’s progress, even more so than the historical challenges of colonialism and military coups. He emphasized that rather than foreign domination, the primary adversary hindering Ghana’s development is the pervasive division created by partisanship.
Kwaku Azar observed that this partisanship has undermined national unity, often favoring party loyalty over vital competencies and the broader national interest. He characterized Ghana’s political environment as increasingly combative, with party dominance overshadowing collective national development, stating, “We have become more loyal to parties than to our country… and betrayed the very independence our forebears fought for.”
Additionally, he expressed concern over the normalization of corruption, noting that it is now often excused when perpetrated by one’s political party. The effect of this erosion of ethics is evident across various critical institutions:
– The Judiciary: Courts are susceptible to political influences rather than serving justice.
– The Media: Some outlets function more as propaganda tools than impartial informants.
– The Civil Service: Merit-based hiring has diminished, enforcing a reliance on political affiliation, often requiring public servants to receive neutrality allowances.
– Parliament: Lawmakers engage in partisan defenses instead of productive national discussions.
– The Church and Academia: Certain leaders have compromised moral integrity for political bias.
– Security Services: Institutions created for societal protection are misused for political agendas.
– Student Activism: The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) now finds itself divided along partisan lines.
Prof. Azar cautioned that this pervasive partisanship has led to stagnation in Ghana’s growth by perpetuating the cycle where new administrations abandon previous projects, prioritizing party allegiance over qualified merit. He urged citizens to embrace a collective identity that transcends political affiliations.
His recommendations include:
– Country before party: Policies should be evaluated based on merit.
– Integrity over loyalty: Leadership should prioritize competence over party connections.
– Restoration of institutions: Guard judicial and civil entities against political manipulation.
– Judicial reform: Remove partisan judges to rebuild trust in judicial systems.
– Unified anti-corruption efforts: Hold all officials accountable, independent of political ties.
– Empowerment in leadership: Focus should be on uplifting citizens rather than consolidating power.
In closing, Kwaku Azar delivered a poignant reminder: “History will judge us not by how fiercely we defended our parties, but by how boldly we defended our nation.” By drawing from Ghana’s past struggles against colonialism and dictatorship, he reiterated the necessity of patriotism in combatting current partisan divisions, stating, “We have proven before that when we stand together for a cause greater than ourselves, we win. The choice is ours. The time is now. Happy 68th Independence Anniversary, Ghana!”
In summary, Prof. Kwaku Azar’s incisive remarks underscored the critical need for unity in Ghana, positioning partisanship as a significant hindrance to progress. His call to prioritize national interests over party loyalty, together with his recommendations for institutional reforms, highlights the path toward restoring the nation’s integrity and advancing development. As he passionately articulated, the essence of patriotism must be harnessed to overcome the challenges posed by partisanship.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
