Food For Thought.

PATRIMONIAL SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY IN GHANA.

I sincerely appeal to government to consider solving patrimonialism in order to become an indeed equitable government.

Significantly, it is an obvious fact that Ghana, our motherland is characterized with patrimonialism which is a profound canker to the development of the economy.A theory was formulated by a staunch political scholar called Raph Milliband,which he states as "....In African countries,the absence of an economically dominant class control of the state.Therefore,the state in African countries must be taken to represent itself in the sense that those people who occupy leading positions in the state will use their friends, families,follows and clients.In fact, the democratic system of Ghana has turned into patron-client relationship which has released a lot of governmental officials inactive and not proficient.According to this theory, it is suitable for government to be occupied by top officials of economic status who are not hungry greedily people to squander the coffers of government.

Unlikely,the economy of Ghana's appointment has turned into patrons or fathers who share favours and other tangible materials to their friends, family relations,and classmates who are their clients.In return,the client offers profuse loyalty and political support.But in the patrimonial state,loyalty is kindly rewarded and disloyalty severely punished.This is a contributing factor to the poor working service of officials.It is high time,we found a solution to this problem than politicising everything.Citizens considered to be very insincere are deprived of their rights fundamentally,and those who are sincere rewarded beyond their competence.Imagine ophanages operating without national license in the name of patron-client relationship.This has made situations to lead to different situations with adverse effects.

There is dread in making a case justifiable to the law when it involves a government official,in other words,client.We tend to attribute all matters in administration to politics but it should be noted that patrimonialism has severe consequences on political and economic development in West Africa,particularly Ghana.And so long as patrimonialism remains the dominant aspect of our socio-economic and political organization in Ghana,economic measures solely can't institute development in the economy.

I, therefore, make an appeal to all Ghanaians and the government of the state to unite and fight against this menace."Unity is Strength".