There is an expiry date for everything on the face of the earth. Indeed, this whole earth is transient and will, one day, cease to exist in the form it is currently. It is because there is time for everything that we must find the time to strike the iron while it is still hot. All too often, we Ghanaians dillydally with or procrastinate important actions till it is too late, too expensive or useless to act. Are there examples? Many. But, for the limitation of space, I pick just one: the reunification of the Nkrumahist and other smaller parties. The merger agenda that is 25 solid years behind schedule. It is a project that is waiting to expire; a project that must be executed with the urgency it deserves. The figures buttress my point.
In 1992, all the other parties apart from the National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic picked 11.3% of the Presidential Election vote: double digit. In 1996, these other parties (other than the NDC, NPP) managed just 3% of the vote. Four years later, 2000, the other parties managed to climb to 7.3%. The rest of the history is regrettable – 2004: 2.91%; 2008: same 2.91%; 2012: 1.55% and in the last election (2016): 1.77%. The time for unification of the remnant Nkrumahists and other smaller parties is fast running out and the earlier adherents rallied to the clarion call sounded early this week by Papa Kwesi Nduom, the better for them all. A time is coming when, even if you united like a stone, your effort would be as useless as a stone in the ocean. The time to act is now!
Imagine the National Conventional Party led by Kojo Botsio and Kow Nkensen Akaah, National Independence Party led by Kwabena Darko, People’s Heritage Party led by Emmanuel Erskine, People’s National Convention led by Sir Hilla Limann and the few others joining forces to fight the 1992 Elections. Or even closing their ranks directly after their first defeat under the Fourth Republic. You wouldn’t have had such regrettable results as produced by the 2016 polls. Such geniuses, business colossuses and illustrious sons and daughters as Edward
Nasigrie Mahama, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Jacob Osei Yeboah and Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings – all put together – managed only 1.77%, less than 2%, of the presidential vote. So, here goes the best question in the world: WHY? The answer is: divided you fall.
So, coming together in the true sense would make the parties stronger, bigger and more attractive to the youth and other voters. Dr. Nduom has also been suggesting that will put paid to the duopoly being enjoyed by the NDC and NPP. That is worth considering seriously too. Many are those getting continually worried that these two parties take turns to form government, implement essentially the same economic policies, exhibit similar inefficiencies and take turns in opposition to criticize mercilessly. They are saintly when in opposition; unprecedentedly corrupt when in government. A reader called me to suggest that our regimes under the Fourth Republican Constitution are outdoing each other in the appointment of record numbers of ministers. A third force could probably bring in significant differences and force the other two to be more competitive, just as the multiplicity of transport companies is dragging STC and other state transporters along the path of efficiency.
Indeed, one of the disadvantages of a duopoly – such as the one being enjoyed by the NPP and NDC – is that it stifles competition of ideas. In general elections, it can also create a deadlock that often benefits the ruling party.
Arguably, the dominance being enjoyed by the umbrella and the elephant in Ghana’s politics runs contrary to the spirit of the 1992 Constitution. The Constitution prescribes and seeks to protect Multiparty Democracy. What is that? Multi-party system is the arrangement in which multiple or many political parties across the political spectrum run for national election, and all have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in coalition. Now, the operative words are: ..all have the capacity to gain control of government offices,
separately or in a coalition. In all humility, I put it to the Nkrumahist and other smaller parties that – in their current states – they lack the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in a coalition. They are thus failing to play the roles crucial to make this system a multi-party one. We live in a duopoly; not in a multiparty democracy, period!
The multi-party system we aspire remains for now illusive. Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP dominated elections from about 1951 till 1965 when this country was declared a one-party state. The Progress Party swept the polls of 1969 to keep this nation a de facto one-party state. And, though, Dr. John Billson chose to name the political group he founded in 1979 the Third Force Party, the best that year’s election could produce was the start of a duopoly in the victorious People’s National Party and the narrowly defeated Popular Front Party. If you are wondering whether building a multiparty democracy is doable at all, however, the good answer is yes.
Asia’s examples include Party of the Functional Groups, Indonesian Democratic Party, National Awakening Party, United Development Party in Indonesia; Liberal Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, National Unity Party and Nacionalista Party in the Philippines; Indian National Congress, Janata Party, Bhahatiya Janata Party and United Front in India. These are all groups that have the capacity to gain control of government offices, separately or in a coalition.
In Austria, the Social Democratic Party, Austrian People’s Party, Freedom Party of Austria, and The Green Alternative are strong enough to protect the nation slipping into a one-party state or a duopoly. Another European country, Iceland, has Independence Party, Left-Green Movement, Progressive Party and Bright Future Party. And there is this one in Iceland called Pirate Party. Don’t you equally like the names in Romania? National Liberal Party, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, Save Romania Union.
You need an African example that is solid? The Constitutional Democratic Rally, Socialist Destourian Party, Islamist Ennahda Party and Secularist Nidaa Tounes make Tunisia a good example.
As I was saying, it is doable. Is it desirable? It is more than attractive. Should conscious efforts be made to make Ghana a truly multiparty democracy? On the grounds of excellence alone, yes. In that connection, Ghana Today urges even the NPP and NDC – opponents of the weaker parties, so to speak – not to do anything to frustrate the building of a third force. Ghana Today urges the electorate, Ghanaians in general, to look favourably towards the solid unification of the Nkrumahists and the other minor parties. For, it is in the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian that the tenets of the Constitution, including the proper functioning of a multiparty system, get to work and be seen to be indeed working.
As for all the other parties than the NPP and NDC (last time I counted them on the books they were more than 20), they need not wait further to be told that their survival lies solely in they galvanizing themselves into a Third Force or just two or three parties. If the picture depicted above from the presidential elections held so far in the Fourth Republic failed to sink in adequately, here are more telling effects of internal disintegration.
The PNC had eight Members of Parliament from 1997 to 2001. That coconut party held six people in the Legislature from 2005 to 2009. The CPP’s representation in the House from 2001 to 2005 was seven. The cockerel’s representation whittled to one between 2001 and 2005. From 2005 to 2009, the CPP had four in the House. Today, neither party; indeed, no party has a single MP. The NPP and NDC totally monopolise the 275 seats. What a duopoly! And, the other parties must take a cue.
Inspirational preacher and founder of the International Central Gospel Church, Mensah Anamoa Otabil, puts it so well: “No great nation or organisation has ever been destroyed by external aggression; they are often destroyed by internal disintegration.” In unity lies strength. And
that kind of genuine unity requires tonnes of sacrifices and love for party and country.
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