Vote-Buying, Political Maneuvering, and Shameless Pandering: The Asin North By-Election in Review
The recent by-election in Asin North was a revealing spectacle, casting a harsh light on the murky world of Ghanaian politics. It had all the elements of a political drama – vote-buying, political maneuvering, and politicians shamelessly pandering to the electorate.
Out of nowhere, development projects sprang up in the region, as though the government had suddenly discovered a deep-seated interest in the wellbeing of Asin North’s residents. Politicians, ensconced in their luxury V8 trucks, graced the rough roads of the constituency, their presence a stark reminder of the disparity between the haves and the have-nots.
This spectacle of sudden attention was not lost on the inhabitants of the poverty-stricken villages. The sight of politicians, promising a better future while trudging through the rain, would have been amusing if it weren’t so tragic.
I find it disheartening that our leaders could look at the faces of these hardworking people, witness their daily struggle for survival, and still have the audacity to ask for their votes. It paints a picture of a political class that has lost touch with reality, and more disturbingly, lost all sense of morality.
The poverty that plagues the constituency is not a secret. The economic hardship faced by the inhabitants is glaringly obvious. The irony is that the very people who are tasked with addressing these challenges, our politicians, seem to be oblivious to them.
In the midst of this political circus, a 70-year-old man chose to relinquish his Canadian citizenship to vie for the position of a Member of Parliament in Ghana. It’s puzzling, isn’t it? One has to question his motives and what he brings to the table. Yet, surprisingly, no one is asking about his capabilities, track record, or even his fitness for the role.
The events surrounding the Asin North by-election are not only disappointing, but they also raise serious questions about our political culture. Why have our politicians become so disconnected from the reality of those they serve? Why has the welfare of the electorate become an afterthought?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, offered an intriguing theory, asserting that humans in their most natural state are fundamentally good. It’s society’s intricate stratagem, including the tumultuous politics, that taints this inherent goodness. Could it be that these politicians, originating from the struggling society they now represent, have been corrupted by the systemic labyrinth they inhabit?
This political theater is indeed a cause for concern. It lays bare the unsightly underbelly of our politics and makes one wonder – when did we lose sight of what truly matters?
Politics, ideally, should be about service, about improving lives, about making a difference. It’s high time our politicians remembered that. For the sake of Asin North, and for the sake of Ghana, I hope that they do.