Since the first tenure of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, our religious leaders and traditional rulers have minced no words admitting that, indeed, governance and development are seeing remarking strides.
The current development appears to have ignited a renewed spirit of collaboration between these important stakeholders and the government, as they seek improved conditions for their communities.
That had not been very common in the history of Ghana. What had been the norm since the colonial times was, often, chiefs leading agitations on national issues, including government’s forced acquisition of lands and interference with the powers of chiefs.
Particularly, under the military governments and First Republican dictatorship, traditional rulers were never made to express their views, without being openly or secretly threatened.
Selective participation
Under the JJ Rawlings’ PNDC administration, we had people’s involvement that encouraged the participation of the youth and women, who were even motivated in several forms. Yet, some chiefs were still somewhat locked out of the governance space.
Where they were tolerated, it was because they were expected to nod like lizards to the revolutionary chanting of the new African imperialist who was mouthing socialist ideologies.
We recall instances where traditional rulers, by the stroke of Executive powers, were told they were no longer recognized as chiefs.
Open participation
Today, under transformed structures, our traditional rulers are indispensable part of our governance system, contributing within clearly spelt out frameworks in improving governance in their communities.
Better still, they are now free enough to contribute willingly and to support government projects in their communities. That is evidenced in the readiness with which they respond anytime opportunities crop up to engage government over what inputs they could make to help improve lives and livelihoods.
Little wonder that each time President Nana Add Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice-President, Alhaji Mahamdu Bawumia, move out into constituencies and communities on official tours, our revered traditional rulers give them the warmest of reception.
It is also particularly not strange that since government decided to open up the country and create new regions to facilitate national development, our traditional rulers have been opening up on their relationship and engagement levels with the government, offering not only support but caution and advice anytime issues crop up.
President’s visit
That was the picture that was painted during the President’s visit to the newly-created Western North Region over the weekend.
But that is also aside of the recurring instances of traditional rulers praising government for its job creation, agro initiatives as well as roads construction efforts that improve communication and, ultimately, economies in our rural communities.
In our culture, the opinions and verdicts of our traditional and religious communities carry weight. That is because they reflect the aspirations of the grassroots, unlike the politician who is moved more by convenience and political expediency than by the ingredient of truth.
Verdict
If what we are seeing and hearing therefore is the truth, as reported by the media, then we may safely say that not only is Ghana on course, but that the nation is in the right pair of hands into 2024 and beyond.
We, therefore, urge all Ghanaians to ignore the ugly noises being bandied by the opposition National Democratic Congress and its organs, and support the government in carrying out its mandate.
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