As the 2024 general election looms, Boakye Agyarko raises a critical question: “Where are we headed?” Reflecting on the current political landscape, Agyarko observes a lack of the usual vigor and excitement that typically accompanies election seasons. This absence of enthusiasm, he suggests, signifies a deeper issue—political anomie.
Agyarko attributes this state of disinterest to a collective failure among political parties and actors to present compelling messages and programs that inspire the nation’s imagination and energy. He stresses the need for political parties to undergo introspection, citing John Gardner’s principle that no organization can thrive without periodically reexamining its purpose.
Drawing from Kenneth Janda’s classification of political parties, Agyarko outlines four organizational manifestations: Party, Team, Tribe, and Cult. He highlights the decline of the classic political party—a union of like-minded individuals seeking power to advance national interests and principles. Instead, many parties have devolved into electoral machines, prioritizing victory over values, or tribal cliques, focused on narrow, self-serving agendas.
Agyarko warns against the dangers of political organizations that center around a single leader, resembling cults. Such structures undermine democratic principles and lead to the monopolization of power.
To address these issues, Agyarko calls for a serious examination of Ghana’s democratic framework and political parties. He urges a return to the foundational principles of national development, cohesion, and collective interest. The stakes are high, he argues, as a political system devoid of these principles risks degenerating into a criminal enterprise.
Ultimately, Agyarko’s message is a clarion call for reflection, reform, and a recommitment to the core values that should drive Ghana’s political landscape. He underscores the urgency of this endeavor, emphasizing that the future of the nation’s democracy depends on it.
