A Fellow of the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana, Dr John Osae-Kwapong has expressed worry over a Minister saying that development is dependent on partisan politics.
Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on Tuesday, April 23, he said the Roads and Highways Minister suggesting that only persons aligned with government can benefit from development is unfortunate.
Dr Osae-Kwapong said the statement implies that development is contingent on partisan political allegiance, stressing that this is not the intended function of democratic governance.
On Monday, April 22, Francis Asenso Boakye told some Ejisu constituents that voting for an independent candidate in the upcoming parliamentary by-election might lead to less development.
But Dr Osae-Kwapong said, after elections, governments should focus on development for all regardless of party affiliations
According to him, governments must strive to transcend partisan politics in service of the nation.
“And so, if you are saying that an independent person cannot come to your office to lobby for roads for their constituency, I find that very worrying because the person represents constituents.
The person is representing the people of Ejisu and if government’s interest is in promoting development for Ghanaians of which the people of Ejisu are part then it should not matter who is representing them in parliament. That is not how we want to pursue development.
“We do not want to do our politics that way but yes as part of political campaigning, you want to throw in some things that cause voters to rethink a choice.”
Dr Osae-Kwapong stated that government should focus on implementing national development agendas and ensuring that all constituents are properly represented in parliament, regardless of whether they are represented by an independent candidate.
He emphasised that if a constituency requires developmental projects such as roads, government should address those needs, regardless of the political affiliation of the representative.
“And so to say that it shut the door to them for me is both a worrying and rather unfortunate statement”.
