AFTER KENYA'S NEAR-DISASTER: GHANA'S TRADITIONAL RULERS MUST ADAPT TO NEW AFRICAN REALITIES!

To paraphrase the famous American novelist and social critic, Upton Sinclair, we don't have to be satisfied with our country as we find it. We can change it. Compared to many an African country, Ghana is a marvellous oasis of peace and stability, in a continent, in which both, are in short supply. And in spite of the many mercenaries in the media (beholden to both the ruling party and the parties in opposition), we have one of the most vibrant media landscapes anywhere in Africa - and although we often condemn our rulers, Ghana is governed relatively more transparently, than most nations in Africa: for, in the main, our national institutions work: even if some do, only feebly!

The forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, will be the most important, since Nkrumah's overthrow, on 24th February, 1966 - for, for the first time since we gained our independence, we will, if our rulers have the wisdom to recognise, and understand, that singular fact, have the wherewithal to enable us transform Ghana, from an impoverished nation, into a prosperous society: one that exists for the common weal.

For that to happen, we must, at all costs, make sure that we devise strategies, which will ensure that our oil wealth, unlike our gold and other mineral resources, is never allowed, to enrich the shareholders of foreign oil companies, in the main, to our nation's detriment - but that rather, every pesawa of it, is harnessed, to transform Ghanaian society: and turn it into one, in which all Ghanaians, not just a powerful few, with greedy ambitions, live well: and none of our people, falls below an agreed minimum standard of living.

It is incumbent on all the political parties in Ghana, to work closely, together with the Electoral Commission (EC), to ensure that all the necessary measures are put into place, so that at the end of the day, the results of the December 2008 elections, will, actually reflect the true wishes, of the people of Ghana. The events in the aftermath of the Kenyan elections, show clearly, just how fragile the stability of nations, which were created, in effect, by the bringing together, of many different tribal groupings (some of which had been ancient rivals), into nation-states, which did not enjoy, the total loyalty, of many of their citizenry, can be.

It is in this vein, that painful though it is, to many Ghanaians, we must, nonetheless, and of necessity, point it out plainly, and clearly, to those of our traditional rulers, who constantly hark back, to the pre-colonial traditional feudal era, that for the sake of the unity of mother Ghana, they can never be allowed to revive the past glories, of their predecessors - as that can only be done at the expense of the peace, stability and cohesion, of our homeland Ghana: something ordinary Ghanaians are simply not prepared to countenance or compromise over. Period.

The time has therefore come for progressives in Ghana, to make it absolutely clear, to all Ghana's traditional rulers, that the unity of the Ghanaian nation-state, is a non-negotiable issue - and that we are prepared to bring the 4th Republic to an end, if need be: and create a new 5th Republic, which will make the Leviathan that is the enterprise Ghana, one, in which, like the Federal Republic of India, Ghana's equivalent of India's Maharajahs, our traditional rulers, play no official role whatsoever, in our national life.

It is in the light of this, that we must sound a note of caution, to those traditional rulers, who seek to force traditional rulers in other regions, to bend to their whims and caprices. It does not matter to us one jot, whether a traditional ruler's predecessors (be they erstwhile kings of pre-colonial era Dagbon; Ga Dangbe; Anlo; Denkyira; Fante; Asante; or Akwapim; or Mamprussi; etc. etc.), had empires, which were the biggest, humankind has ever seen: or that their predecessors were the mightiest rulers who ever walked on the surface of the planet Earth - it is all history, as far as Ghana's progressives, are concerned: and does not impress us, one bit.

This is a Republic, in which no kingdoms exist - and all Ghana's traditional rulers must accept that bald fact. We may respect them, but we love our country, even more, than we hold them in high esteem - and we will never tolerate any attempt to roll back the sovereign national territory, of our Republic. Period. If any Chief appoints Chiefs across regional boundaries, they must simply make room for them to sit in their own regional house of Chiefs - and not seek to impose those Chiefs on other regional houses of Chiefs, regardless: and in the process stir up ancient tribal rivalries; which could set our country ablaze - as tribal hatred, nearly destroyed Kenya, only just recently: but for the wisdom of our own Busummuru Kofi Annan! A word to the wise.... --