“If we want to fight corruption, we must change the way political positions are contested for, I believe there are various political party positions that should be occupied through appointment rather than elections,” he said.
Rev. Dr Mensah explained that democracy was not only about elections but about building consensus and “if the citizenry believe and have confidence in an individual to perform a particular task, they should come together and agree to appoint that person, and not always through elections”.
Presenting an analyses of the 2022 budget at the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office Boardroom Dialogue Platform, Rev. Dr Mensah noted that it was not only about sitting on radio and television to debate about corruption but to look at the root causes which calls for exemplary leadership and an all-hands-on-deck approach.
He revealed that fighting corruption as a country would continue to be difficult as the geo-political system seemed to breed it however, under the Fourth Republic successive governments had attempted to help fight corruption but they achieved virtually nothing and corruption continues to affect every facet of life.
Francis Ameyibor, GNA Tema Regional Manager, suggested that civil society organisations, religious bodies, professional groups, traditional authorities, gender-based groups, and other interest groups must stand up and fight corruption.
He urged them to use their advocacy and influence in the grassroots to market a candidate instead of building the capacity of political parties for elections.
“The various labour unions and associations such as Ghana National Association of Teachers, University Teachers Association of Ghana, Trade Union Congress, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Federation of Labour among others, should identify at least 10 constituencies each across the country and sponsor independent candidates to get into Parliament to fight their cause.
“We must begin to move away from labour unrests in the streets and take the fight to Parliament, where major decisions are taken and if well-coordinated at the close of Election 2024, the political map in Parliament will change, governance will change, and people will fight for national interest and not political interest.
“Election 2024 would serve as the electoral barometer for other stakeholders to market and elect non-partisan members to join the parliamentary wagon to protect their interest,” Mr Ameyibor advocated.
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