Engaging voters reveal they are concerned about cost of living and constitutional reforms, among other pressing issues. Parties are addressing the former that is directly impacting standard of living but not the latter matter. Reforms empowering the population, the local governments, the municipalities, the NDCs, the Amerindian communities, should also be a priority and urgently pursued after the election especially that a constitutional commission is in place, appointed by the PPP administration. The Attorney General and his PPP have committed.
Every (opposition) party going back to 1980 committed to constitutional reform but none was implemented when in office; the only time was coerced reform after the 1997 elections shortening the term of the PPP administration and the reform (2007) prohibiting MPs from taking an independent position from their party in parliament; MPs who don’t toe their party line can be and in fact were replaced.
I traveled all over the country over the last few weeks engaging voters and listening to campaign speeches as well as reading reports and watching videos of some campaign speeches. Speakers of the six parties are cross crossing the country making promises to convince the faithfuls and woo the uncommitted or get cross overs. Most of the speeches by all speakers from all parties on the hustings thus far focused on the economy including handouts and how they plan to tackle rising prices for food and housing. PPP speakers, as do others, varied their content to also include health care, education, and agriculture. There was hardly anything by any of the campaign on institutional reforms empowering the population.
The population will like greater independence from party domination that instructs them rather than seek their opinions. People will like to have lower prices and run their own affairs. They will like to see devolution of powers away from the national government and desire a role beyond just voting. They want to be consulted on how they are governed. When people feel they have a meaningful role in government, they will be more deeply involved in government affairs, taking greater interest in policies and politics, resulting in better governance. Reforms empowering the public will encourage people to become politically involved resulting in better governance. In addition to increasing interest in government or governance, empowering the people will reduce waste and inefficiency. The parties need to make a strong commitment to give the people greater powers.
