The Speaker made these remarks at the official launch of the “Political Inclusion and Consensus Building Project,” organised by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) in partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
While acknowledging Ghana’s status as a beacon of democracy on the continent—having conducted successive peaceful transfers of power and successfully navigated a “hang parliament”—Speaker Bagbin noted that citizens are growing increasingly frustrated with the status quo.
“Our citizens expect more than elections; they expect cooperation, delivery, and the dividends of democracy. They expect politics that solves problems, not politics that deepens divisions,” Rt. Hon. Bagbin stated. He described the current public mood as one of a “deafening silence, and frustrating anger,” as citizens question whether politics serves the common good or merely partisan advantage.
The Danger of ‘Winner-Takes-All’
The Speaker emphasized that democracy cannot survive on competition alone, but rather on constructive disagreement and genuine inclusion. He warned that the “winner-takes-all” approach to governance is a dangerous path that weakens the nation’s fabric.
“Democracy is promised when everyone feels respected and included. Democracy weakens when winner takes all is the order of the day,” he said. “Political exclusion breeds frustration. Frustration breeds mistrust, and mistrust in turns breeds instability. Inclusion, on the other hand, strengthens legitimacy, encourages participation, and nurtures national unity.”
He urged political parties to see themselves not merely as vehicles for electoral victory, but as “schools of leadership, platforms for national dialogue, and custodians of political programs.”
A Timely Intervention
Given these challenges, Speaker Bagbin described the new project launched by ACEPA and the FDFA as both “timely and important.” He drew on the proverb, “If you want to know the future, you have to create it,” praising the initiative for actively working to build a more inclusive political culture.
“The future of our democracy depends less on how fiercely we campaign and more on how responsibly we cooperate after elections,” Rt. Hon. Bagbin concluded. “Citizens do not live in partisan houses; they share markets, schools, workplaces, and families. We must play the tune together to get harmony.”
The “Political Inclusion and Consensus Building Project” aims to foster dialogue and cooperation across party lines, strengthening the capacity of Parliament and political actors to work together in the national interest.
The “Political Inclusion and Consensus Building Project” aims to foster dialogue and cooperation across party lines, strengthening the capacity of Parliament and political actors to work together in the national interest.
Source: Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com
