Prof Kingsley Nyarko, Member of Parliament for Kwadaso and former Deputy Education Minister, has issued a strong rebuke to President John Dramani Mahama, accusing his administration of “misbehaving” and “misgovernment” through a blatant display of power and disregard for the rule of law. Prof Nyarko called on the President to abandon what he sees as acts of “majoritarian tyranny” and return to the principles of democracy and good governance.
Prof Nyarko asserted that while democracy empowers the majority, it does not grant elected leaders unfettered power to act arbitrarily or disregard established rules.
He believes that President Mahama’s administration has strayed from its mandate to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians, instead engaging in lawlessness, abuse of power, political intimidation, and political intolerance.
“I must state in no ambiguity that the NDC administration under the leadership of President John Mahama is misbehaving, and worst of all, misgovernment,” Prof. Nyarko declared. “The NDC government needs to be reminded that their mandate as given by the people is to make their living condition better and nothing else.”
Read his full article below;
Mr. President, Enough of the Majoritarian Tyranny:
By Kingsley Nyarko, MP, Kwadaso
Democracy is supposed to provide a more effective system of governance and give the citizenry the freedom to live peacefully, mutually co-exist and express themselves freely on matters that affect them and the entire nation.
Participatory democracy requires the provision of guarantees to citizens and non-citizens, and most importantly legislators, as they contribute to the advancement of their societies in their quest to make them better. In fact, this is what democracy is all about: governance that puts the interests of the people and the nation on the front-burner.
In a democratic environment, the majority rule and reign. Having a majority in the legislature, or being given an overwhelming majority to govern doesn’t give an elected leader nor any arm of government unfettered powers to take the law into their own hands and demonstrate or act arbitrarily to satisfy their whims and caprices.
The Ghanaian electorate honored President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in the last polls to provide leadership—one that meets their needs and aspirations and not this blatant show of power, bravado and disregard for established rules and enactments that safeguard the public order.
I must state in no ambiguity that the NDC administration under the leadership of President John Mahama is misbehaving, and worst of all, misgovernment. The NDC government needs to be reminded that their mandate as given by the people is to make their living condition better and nothing else.
Even after winning the last general elections and upon assumption of office, all that we see in this country is lawlessness, blatant abuse of power, political intimidation and political intolerance.
President Mahama and the NDC must fathom that democracy is anchored on tolerance , the rule of law, freedom of speech and expression and personal liberties.
Mr. President, with respect to your office, you do not own Ghana; neither will you reign in perpetuity.
Why are you allowing this abuse of executive power to fester under your watch? You promised Ghanaians you were going to provide a different kind of leadership. What you called resetting the nation and delivering the Ghana we want.
But, Mr. president, what is happening in the country right now is not what you promised us. No, this is not the Ghana we want. We expect you to do better and right; we expect you to build on the strong democratic legacies of the former NPP administration under the distinguished leadership of President Akufo-Addo and his Vice-President Dr. Bawumia bequeathed you on 7th January, 2025.
Mr. President, in fact, your attempt to remove the Chief Justice is needless and unwarranted; the security agencies tactics of harassing former political office holders is unnecessary; the dismissal of the numerous youth who were legitimately offered employment by the former administration was inhumane and completely unacceptable; and the recent intimidation of the Honourable Member of Parliament for Assin South, Reverend Ntim Fordjour—the Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament is simply unacceptable since due process was thrown to the dogs. Please, don’t debase the democracy we have nurtured and safeguarded for over three decades now.
Mr. President, let me conclude by reminding you of your mandate: it is to, provide effective, pragmatic and forward-looking leadership, provide jobs for the jobless, keep the lights on, improve upon our living conditions and standard of living, improve upon our healthcare delivery system, provide quality, affordable and accessible education for all, improve upon our road network, add onto the existing factories, ensure food security and sufficiency, ensure enhanced security in the country among others.
Mr. President, this is your mandate to the people in case you’ve forgotten, and not majoritarian tyranny.
Till now, three months at the helm, you haven’t demonstrated clear plans to create jobs for the teaming masses, especially the youth. You must be worried about this, and find solution to it. The former administration created about three million jobs.
Please, reset properly. What we are seeing now is not resetting, but reversals, if not retrogression.
God bless Ghana!!!