TWENTY five years of multiparty democracy is no mean achievement, especially looking at our chequered history. That is how far we have come as a country since the inception of the 1992 Constitution, and our resolve to practice multiparty system of government.
OF course it has not been a smooth-sailing journey. We have had some challenges on the way. The interesting thing however is, we were able to surmount those challenges that confronted us. This is also not to suggest that we will not encounter other complexities along the way. Definitely, there will be one problem or the other, but then the onus lies on us to address them when they come our way as a growing democracy.
IT must be pointed out that there is nothing like a perfect democracy in this world not even the much trumpeted one of the United States of America (USA) which is over one hundred years old. That is the reality on the ground. Democracies are always evolving as times and situations change around the world.
IT is against this backdrop that Today wants to use this medium to commend President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for inviting our three former Presidents—Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama—to the Flagstaff House, the seat of government, to deliberate on issues of national significance. A communiqué issued shortly after the meeting indicated that it was fruitful.
IN fact, last Tuesday’s meeting should not surprise us at all because this was something President Akufo-Addo said he will do while in office—tapping into the rich experience of our former presidents. We recall that in his inaugural speech on January 7, 2017, he said: “I am in the unique position of being able to draw on the wisdom and experiences of three former Presidents of the Republic, their Excellencies Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama. They represent the continuity of the institutions of our Republic, for which we thank God.”
THEN again, in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, the President repeated his intention to engage the former Presidents.
HOWEVER, what seems to have amazed many Ghanaians is the realisation of what he said. This has often been a leadership problem in this country. They say very progressive things but then abandon them somewhere along the way.
IN fact the President continues to receive tons of commendation for conferring with his predecessors. The meeting must teach us that no matter what our party affiliations are we are always Ghanaians. That is one very important element that unites us as a people and a nation. And with that in mind we must all give off our best to make this nation an enviable one, one that the world would always feel proud about.
THE meeting was indeed historic! It is therefore, our expectation that it will not be a one-off thing but something that will be done periodically, not only by the current President but by our future sitting Presidents. There is still more that our former Presidents can offer towards making Ghana great and strong. And such an opportunity must not elude us in this winding road of democracy.
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