What Is The Best Contribution That The Media In Ghana Can Make To The Nation-Building Effort Before The December Elections?

Given the intense rivalry between the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), it is not surprising that there is not a single Ghanaian citizen  anywhere in the world, who truly loves our homeland Ghana, who is not worried about the future of our nation, as the date for the December presidential and parliamentary elections approaches.

For many such Ghanaians, it is inexplicable that the media in Ghana seem to be blithely oblivious of something that is blindingly obvious to the rest of the world.

The fact of the matter, is that in the immediate aftermath of the December elections, the uncontrollable and violence-prone hardliners in the constituent parties that make up the NDC/NPP duopoly, which have dominated Ghanaian politics since the 4th Republic came into being, will tip Ghana over the precipice - as sure as day follows night - if Ghanaians do not reject both President Mahama and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo,  and vote for a third-force candidate such as Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, instead, in the December presidential election.

The question is: Why have so many Ghanaian journalists - and the media entities that some of them are employed by - failed to make the point to ordinary  Ghanaians, that because they are in the firm grip of ruthless extremists, both the NDC and NPP are no longer fit-for-purpose political entities: and that a democratic society underpinned by tolerance and fairness ought to consign them to the landfill of African history?

Are we not at a juncture in Ghana's history, when the nation needs to be governed by honest men and women, who are competent, tolerant and fair-minded individuals - who understand clearly that Ghanaians ought to put extreme partisanship aside and unite to move their nation forward: for the common good? Haaba.

And does that not rule out from the equation the NDC/NPP duopoly because they are both political parties that are structured to enable incompetent, dishonest and corrupt politicians (some of whom are criticism-averse and violence-prone),  to band together to seek power - and enrich themselves, their favourite blood-relatives and their cronies at the expense of ordinary people and Mother Ghana?

Is it not therefore odd that thus far - with presidential and parliamentary elections a mere four months away - Ghanaian journalists have failed to make the point that until they publicly publish all the sources of their parties' funding, as well as their own assets, and those of their spouses,  politicians who accuse each other of being corrupt, are ill-intentioned, mischievous and simply being hypocritical?

If Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom is apparently willing to publicly publish not only his and Mrs. Yvonne Nduom's assets,  but that of his entire nuclear family (and, if elected, demand that of all the public-sector appointees he selects, too, as H.E. President Nduom), and publicly publish all the sources of his party's campaign funds, before the December elections, does that not set the standard for all those who want to hold the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana, I ask?

And best of all, Nduom is determined to end impunity in Ghana, by probing all the regimes that have held power since the 4th Republic came into being - and take back all the wealth stolen from taxpayers in the many crooked deals entered into by the rogues who amassed great wealth by ripping off Mother Ghana whiles in  office. Is that not the kind of leader Ghana needs? So why is the media not endorsing Nduom? Hmm, Ghana - eyeasem o.

Do Ghanaian journalists not understand that to move ahead as a people, we must bring the era when the boldest of the respectable-looking-crooks in Ghana, joined political parties in order to use them as special purpose vehicles to amass great wealth, with, to an end? The time has come for  Ghana to be governed by honest and principled men and women, who are world-class professionals, who seek political power in order to be in a position to serve society - and help improve the lot of the masses of the Ghanaian people.

Henceforth, before they end their interactions with all politicians, journalists in Ghana must ask those politicians whether or not they agree that the most effective way to fight high-level corruption in this country, is to ensure that all political appointees and their spouses publicly publish their assets before assuming office, and immediately after their tenures end - and then go on to ask them whether or not they are personally prepared to publicly publish their own assets and those of their spouses, before the December presidential and parliamentary elections.

That will be the best contribution that Ghanaian journalists and media entities in Ghana can make to the nation-building effort as we approach the December elections. Hmm, Ghana - eyeasem o: asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa!