Last week, the Most Reverend Archbishop Emeritus of Kumasi His Grace Peter Akwasi Sarpong spoke some honest truths about our growing political system, which we must all absorb and deal with in humility. I support the Archbishop when he says: “Our so-called democracy has in large part, degenerated into corruption. It has been turned into a rule of terror, however subtle, it has become inward looking. Our political party democracy has carried with it the danger of the parties thinking more about how to win the next election than about the good of the nation.” The unending squabbles over national property, accusations and counter accusations engaged in by NDC and NPP are worrisome. The blame game between those two parties that have been fortunate to win political power has been most unproductive. The quarrels over which of the two political parties that have been in power in the 4th Republic have squandered state assets and financial resources are distressing to many in Ghana. The incidence of non-productive payments to individuals and companies in the name of “judgment debts” all at the expense of the people of Ghana, have been observed with growing bemusement by the whole nation. Not much had been said by religious, social and business leaders many times out of loyalty or deference to the NDC and NPP. That is until the brave Archbishop spoke. He deserves commendation. Ghana needs to become an inclusive society. Winner-takes-all politics at this stage of our development robs the nation of valuable experience and human capital. In my view, the unproductive actions of the parties that have won power in the 4th Republic demand a solution that differs from the Archbishop’s suggestion. This is a multi-party democracy, so the people need to give other parties the responsibility to serve in a more befitting way. Many have called PPP a ‘third force’. We are indeed a positive force. We stand for a different way of governing the state. First and foremost as an incorruptible leadership with experience, humility and selflessness, a government led by the PPP will never endorse, much less defend, the sale and/or distribution of State property and assets to cronies and party members. It is wrong. Parliament needs to enact legislation to ensure that this sort of plunder brought to light does not happen again. It will be the right thing to do. The PPP will make a difference through our Change Agenda. The PPP wants the opportunity to implement an Agenda for Change that is built on four pillars - Stewardship, Education, Healthcare and Jobs. We will implement the Agenda using the spirit of inclusiveness that will enable us to use the best Ghanaians; full participation of women and the youth; and above all a leadership that is incorruptible. By dealing with corruption, we can double government revenue which we will use to pay for our transformational initiatives in education, healthcare and job creation. As the country takes a closer look at all the broken promises, bitter campaigns, and ineptitude that has characterised the parties in power for 24 years, it is time to consider an alternative approach. The best alternative is the progressive one, PPP. Our party is the first political party in Ghana to make incorruptible governance its guiding principle and political policy. Our party is the alternative that has seriously invested in organizing itself and political infrastructure with the aim of winning power. Specifically, we are asking for: • A chance to provide clean, non-abusive and sustained democratic governance – we ask Ghanaians to watch how we do it now, how we campaign, our speech, our behaviour and our discipline. • An opportunity to deliver government for all Ghanaians – young, old, men, women. A look at our parliamentary candidates gives a strong clue to the content and character of a future PPP administration. • Giving GHANA the opportunity to change its fortunes for the better by doing things differently and with a sense of urgency. God bless our homeland Ghana. Awake Ghana! PAPA KWESI NDUOM June 20, 2012