SO CALLED ‘WINNER TAKES ALL POLITICS’

I heard a tape of Arch-Bishop Duncan William on which as part of his sermon, he admonished or was admonishing the two big Political Parties in the country (Ghana) to find  a way around what he called ‘Winner Takes All Politics’.

He stated that he sees the practice as very dangerous to the sustainability of our Democracy, he explained by saying that the practice whereby a Political Party goes into election, loses out and has to stay four years in opposition amidst all the pain and hardship is untenable. He then in his admonishment called on the President, John Dramani Mahama, who was sitting in the congregation (I suppose), to think through the situation and find a way to bring others from across the political divide on board.

I wish to state that I appreciate the Arch-Bishop’s frustration because of how the Politicians have made the politicking to seem, but I dare say that the fact that we could agree or have agreed that it is a ‘Winner Takes All Politics’, is a wrong footing to take.

My take is that there should be nothing like a ‘Winner Takes All’ because there is not supposed to be a thing like that, the understanding that the terminology connotes cannot find space in our Constitution and should not be tolerated.

Think about it, what is ‘Winner Takes All’? Are Political Parties supposed to come to power to come take things? Are they not rather supposed to give? And what do they take or have to take? Are they not supposed to come provide or give good roads, good health, quality education, among others?

I think if our Political Parties do what is expected of them, that is, by thinking and working fervently to put the Ghanaian Economy on the right footing, irrespective of one’s political affiliation, one could do great in his business, profession or job. Political Power should not become a lucrative job-seeking avenue for political activists, it is supposed to be a service-giving avenue.

I hereby end by stating that the ‘Winner Takes All’ argument is a non-starter and must not be tolerated, Politicians are not supposed to come take anything, period!

Troubleshuta