What The Papers Say
Peoples Daily Graphic
Ghana The question of true democracy
Over the past two years the subject which has been discussed in many forums and in private conversations is the type of government which must be evolved for Ghana. Views have varied extensively on the issue and in some cases, due to want of good definitions of the concepts that have been proposed, there has been the tendency for some to throw up their hands in despair and to remark that maybe Ghanaians will be doing themselves a world of good if they should go back to the concept of democracy as is practised by our former colonisers.On several occasions some have been heard saying that the question of true democracy is already settled, meaning that what the colonisers left behind and which they are said to practice is the tried political concept which cannot, SHOULD NOT be kicked against.
However Ghanaians do not need to traverse their own political boundaries to find out whether the type of democracy which is held SACROSANCT by some and which they would wish to have ingrained in the country's political system has proved workable and successful or not.
Three past Republics tried the political concept in question, that is the Westminster type, but in all those cases something went wrong and the trial came to an end. Yesterday, while formally introducing members of the National Commission for Democracy to the staff of the commission, Justice D.F. Annan, member of the PNDC who is also the Chairman of the commission, remarked that the establishment of true democracy in the country has failed because of the tendency of planting upon the people foreign concepts and ideas which do not take account of the country's historical events and the values of the people.
The result is that Ghanaians have been subjected to an alien political system which found politicians going to every length to win the votes of the electorate.
However, the moment they had the votes, they forgot all about the people who propped them up.
The electorate were therefore ignored whenever decisions were being taken and their interests were therefore not catered for.
With the launching of the December 31 Revolution, therefore, Ghanaians have been offered the opportunity to develop their own political structure with a democratic their views freely but also to participate fully in its content which will enable the people not only to express functioning, as the PNDC Co-ordinating Secretary rightly stated in London at a press conference on Wednesday. What then do Ghanaians have to do to ensure a successful development of this new political structure? Participation, to the Graphic, is the answer. The idea of the defence committee has caught on well and it is up to Ghanaians, irrespective of age, status or political creed, to get involved in giving a solid foundation to this political structure. Government should not be taken as a group of people sitting somewhere and dictating to the entire populace. Rather every Ghanaian should see himself as member of government and thereby help in championing policies that will go to ensure a better life for all.
Staying indifferent will not benefit anybody. Whoever will choose to stay indifferent may end up complaining about decisions taken by others and therefore kicking against them and the end result will be chaos. That is why we must all get involved in evolving a true democracy for Ghana if we wish this country well.
The Guardian, Nigeria
The lesson of Leventis United
One of the momentous seasons in Nigeria's football history has just come to an end with Leventis United, a third division graduate, doing the impossible: claiming the Challenge Cup. The entire season might as well, in fact, be the story of the rise of Leventis. After gliding through 30 league matches unbeaten, the two-year-old club took apart some of the most fearsome sides in Nigerian football at the moment, notably the crack first division side New Nigeria Bank of Benin, on its one-way cruise to the Challenge Cup.The young club, which will now represent Nigeria in the African Cup Winners' tournament next year, deserves all the encomiums it is now enjoying. Its 1984 success story, like that of its Challenge Cup final victim, Abiola Babes (in spite of the latter's failure to pass the final test) speaks volumes about the emerging picture of Nigerian football and footballers.
Nigerian football can be seen to be slipping from the entrenched big, 'state-sponsored' clubs with their in-built mis-management, to privately-owned ones with young, malleable players. This year's cup final was a positive testimony to the superiority of thinking, tactical play over the very physical, kick-and-follow style whose exponents seem to be losing voice, and place.
Up, coming and doing would seem to be the appreciated and rewarded Nigerian player who, his basic fears as a man settled, is prepared to give off his best. This may be illustrated in two ways. First, it is noteworthy that the two clubs present at last Saturday's final have players who are fairly well remunerated, and catered for, and who do not feel they have to abandon football in order to find more gainful and secure employment.
The second is that some of our best players are still having to abandon their clubs and country to seek places of academic training, since many schools here cannot find suitable places for them. These two factors seem poised to determine our football fortunes in the near future.
Two other things are worth noting. One is the near- flawless planning done by the Nigeria Football Association in the closing football season. The league was well and properly co-ordinated, and the NFA demonstrate decisiveness and vision. When it had to have players in the Green Eagles camp, for instance, and those invited were still deciding whether to honour the offer, after a specified period, it simply had them replaced. When it had to decide between players going into national or club camps, it did so decisively.
The other matter is that good Nigerian coaches are multi- plying, at least at the club level. Among those who should be able to raise their heads anywhere in the near future must be Jossy Ladipo of Leventis, Isiaka Yakubu of Abiola Babes, Willy Bazauaye of NNB and Charles Bassey of Calabar Rovers.
However, it is not time yet to congratulate anyone. When that time comes, we will know. Meanwhile, it suffices to recognise a refreshing turn of events, and to identify the factors and persons responsible for them.
