Political analyst Siaw Mandela asserts that Ghana’s current political system significantly hinders the nation’s capacity to address existing national challenges.
Speaking on the Nyankonton Mu Nsem show on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr. Mandela argued that the deep polarization of partisan politics has severely eroded the national sense of pride and the collective unity required to confront critical issues such as illegal mining (galamsey), corruption, indiscipline, and economic crisis.
He lamented that the “pull him down” syndrome remains a major threat, fostering a political culture where rivals undermine each other relentlessly merely to secure political office.
He specifically noted that the opposition consistently criticizes the government and discredits its efforts simply to gain power.
This political division, he added, has caused severe social destruction, noting that even related individuals are now poisoning each other through the activities of galamsey.
Mr Siaw Mandela was particularly critical of the fight against illegal mining, arguing that the system is structurally incapable of solving the problem:
”If you ask me, I will state categorically that because of the political system we have, we will not be able to fight galamsey. There are politicians who are sponsoring the activities of galamsey just to give this government a bad name, and the cycle will continue if we don’t take that bold step in dealing with it.”
He further asserted that internal political struggles, even within the ruling party’s hierarchy, could undermine presidential will. He hypothesized that this internal sabotage could affect the decision-making of any leader, including former President John Dramani Mahama, in tackling the menace.
Mandela elaborated on this threat of internal undermining:
”President Mahama may have the political will to stop galamsey, but the group he belongs to may have a different view. There are people in the grassroots who will do everything possible to undermine his efforts. If we don’t agree that the type of democracy we have in Ghana is alien to us, then we will not solve any problems of ours.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
