The dust has settled after a decisive electoral victory. The ruling party, armed with an overwhelming parliamentary majority, celebrates a clear mandate from the people. The air is thick with promises of swift progress and unhindered governance. For many Ghanaians, weary of political gridlock, this may seem like a blessing—a chance for the government to finally “get things done.” However, beneath the surface of this political dominance lies a profound cause for concern. An overpowering parliamentary majority, often called a “supermajority,” poses a significant threat to the very foundations of Ghana’s democratic practice and the long-term health of the nation.
Ghana has rightly earned praise for its stable democracy, characterized by peaceful transfers of power and vibrant political discourse. This stability, however, is not anchored in the dominance of one party but in a delicate system of checks and balances designed to prevent the abuse of power. An overwhelmingly dominant legislature fundamentally upends this balance, creating risks that every Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation, should take seriously.
- The Erosion of Checks and Balances: Parliament as a Rubber Stamp
The primary function of Parliament is not merely to pass the Executive’s agenda; it is to scrutinize debate, amend, and, when necessary, reject government proposals. This is the core of horizontal accountability. With a supermajority, this critical function evaporates. The executive branch, led by the President, effectively controls the legislature.
Rubber-Stamp Legislation: Bills, including the crucial national budget, can be passed with little to no meaningful debate. Complex legislation with far-reaching implications for the economy, natural resources, and civil liberties may be rushed through without adequate scrutiny. Parliament becomes a chamber for endorsing decisions already made elsewhere, rather than a forum for rigorous national deliberation.
Weakened Oversight: Parliamentary committees, such as those responsible for finance, mines and energy, and judiciary, are meant to be watchdogs. They are tasked with investigating government actions, summoning ministers to answer tough questions, and exposing corruption or inefficiency. When the ruling party controls these committees overwhelmingly, their incentive to hold the executive accountable diminishes drastically. The fierce, evidence-based scrutiny that Ghanaians saw during periods of a hung Parliament or a strong minority presence would become a relic of the past.
- The Danger of Constitutional Manipulation
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution is the supreme law of the land, designed to protect the rights of all citizens and define the limits of governmental power. A supermajority brings with it the dangerous ability to alter this foundational document for partisan gain.
While some amendments require a referendum, others, particularly those related to the structure and powers of governance, can be passed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority. A government with an overwhelming majority could, in theory, amend the constitution to extend term limits, manipulate electoral boundaries, or alter the independence of key state institutions. Such actions, even if technically legal, would undermine the spirit of the constitution and concentrate excessive power in the hands of the ruling party, setting a dangerous precedent for the future.
- The Silencing of Diverse Voices and Minority Rights
Ghana is a diverse nation with a multitude of ethnicities, religions, and political viewpoints. A vibrant democracy ensures these voices are heard and considered in national decision-making. A supermajority inherently marginalizes the official opposition and, by extension, the millions of citizens who voted for them.
Ineffective Opposition: The Minority in Parliament plays a vital role in providing alternative policy perspectives, highlighting government failures, and giving voice to dissenting opinions. With negligible voting power, their ability to influence outcomes is severely crippled. Their contributions in debates, no matter how insightful, become merely symbolic, as the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
Tyranny of the Majority: The concept of “majority rule” must be tempered with respect for minority rights. An overwhelming majority can lead to the “tyranny of the majority,” where the interests of the ruling party’s supporters are prioritized at the expense of others. Policies could be designed to reward political strongholds while neglecting regions that voted for the opposition, exacerbating regional and social divisions.
- The Risk of Policy Hubris and Avoidance of Scrutiny
Healthy debate and criticism are essential for crafting sound policies. When a government knows its legislation will pass regardless of its quality, it becomes susceptible to hubris. There is less incentive to conduct thorough feasibility studies, consult widely with stakeholders, or consider unintended consequences. Poorly designed policies—whether related to taxation, infrastructure, or social programs—can be implemented without the necessary corrective feedback that a robust parliamentary process provides. The nation becomes a testing ground for ideas that have not been adequately stress-tested, with citizens bearing the cost of eventual failure.
Furthermore, the government is insulated from daily accountability. Ministers may become less responsive to parliamentary questions and public concern, knowing they are immune to parliamentary censure. This can foster a culture of arrogance and impunity within the executive.
A Call for Vigilance, Not Despair
This is not to say that a ruling party with a strong mandate cannot achieve positive results. Efficiency in passing a coherent agenda is a potential upside. However, the risks to democratic health far outweigh this short-term benefit. The history of democracies around the world shows that prolonged periods of one-party dominance often lead to complacency, corruption, and the erosion of democratic norms.
Therefore, Ghanaians must be vigilant. This concern is not partisan; it is patriotic. It is about preserving the system that ensures no single entity has unchecked power. Citizens, civil society organizations, and the media must now play an even more critical role as watchdogs.
The Media: Must intensify its investigative efforts and provide a platform for a wide range of voices, holding the government to account where Parliament may not.
Civil Society: Think tanks, professional associations, and advocacy groups must engage more deeply with policy proposals, publishing independent analyses and mobilizing public opinion to demand justification for government actions.
The Citizenry: Must pay closer attention to parliamentary proceedings, demand transparency from their MPs—including those from the ruling party—and hold them accountable for their role as legislators, not just as party loyalists.
An overwhelming parliamentary majority may feel like strength, but it can be a weakness in disguise for a democracy. It tests the resilience of a nation’s institutions and the vigilance of its people. Ghana’s democracy has been a beacon in Africa not because one side wins overwhelmingly, but because its systems of accountability have, thus far, held firm. To protect this legacy, Ghanaians must view an overpowering majority not as an invitation to relax, but as an imperative to be more engaged, more critical, and more committed to the delicate balance of power upon which their freedom depends.
Civic Participation: The Pulse of Democratic Societies
By MOHAMMED YUSSIF ALHASSAN, ED, AIPSAPP
We often measure the health of a democracy by its institutions: an independent judiciary, a free press, a vibrant parliament. These are indeed the pillars that hold up the edifice of freedom. But what is the force that gives these structures life? What is the blood that flows through them, the energy that prevents them from becoming cold, inert monuments? The answer is civic participation. It is the essential pulse of a democratic society—the constant, rhythmic proof of its vitality. Without it, even the most perfectly designed democracy is a body on life support, functioning technically but devoid of spirit and resilience.
The concept of democracy, in its purest form, is not a spectator sport. It is not a service provided by a political class to a passive citizenry. It is, as Abraham Lincoln famously articulated, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The most critical phrase in that triad is often overlooked: “by the people.” This implies agency, action, and ongoing involvement. It signifies that the responsibility for governance does not end at the ballot box every four years; it begins there.
Beyond the Ballot: The Spectrum of Participation
When we reduce civic participation to merely voting, we make a grave error. Voting is crucial—it is the foundational act of consent and choice. But it is the bare minimum. The true pulse of democracy is felt in the wide spectrum of activities that constitute an engaged citizenry:
Informed Engagement: This starts with staying informed about local and national issues through diverse, credible news sources. An informed citizen is an empowered citizen, immune to the simplistic slogans and misinformation that poison public discourse.
Community Involvement: Democracy is built from the ground up. Joining a community association, attending town hall meetings, volunteering for a local cause, or simply organizing a neighborhood clean-up—these are the muscles of democracy in action. They teach cooperation, problem-solving, and the tangible impact of collective effort.
Civil Society Advocacy: The lifeblood of a healthy democracy flows through its civil society organizations: human rights groups, environmental watchdogs, transparency initiatives, and professional associations. These groups aggregate citizen concerns, provide expert analysis, and hold power accountable in the long intervals between elections.
Peaceful Protest and Dissent: The right to assemble and voice dissent is not a sign of a failing democracy but a hallmark of a thriving one. Peaceful protests are a vital feedback mechanism, a way for the governed to communicate urgent grievances to the governors.
Constant Dialogue: The pulse of democracy is the sound of conversation—in homes, in markets, on social media, and in the pages of newspapers. It is the respectful, robust exchange of ideas that helps a society navigate complex challenges.
The Consequences of a Faint Pulse
When civic participation wanes, the body politic grows weak. Apathy creates a vacuum that is quickly filled by the most powerful, the most corrupt, and the most extreme. We see the symptoms all around us:
Erosion of Accountability: When citizens disengage, politicians are no longer answerable to the public. They become accountable only to their donors and their inner circles, leading to rampant corruption and policy-making that serves narrow interests.
Polarization and Demagoguery: An disengaged and uninformed public is susceptible to manipulation. Demagogues thrive in an environment of civic illiteracy, using fear and tribalism to gain power, as reasoned debate gives way to inflammatory rhetoric.
The Democratic Mirage: Societies can fall into the “electoral trap,” where the ritual of voting is maintained, but the substance of democracy—accountability, representation, responsiveness—disappears. The pulse is so faint that the society appears democratic from the outside but is functionally oligarchic.
Taking the Pulse: How Do We Revive Civic Life?
Reviving the pulse of civic participation is the great challenge of our time. It requires intentional effort on multiple fronts:
Civic Education from Youth: We must move beyond teaching dates and facts about government to fostering a culture of active citizenship. Schools should incorporate debate, community service, and critical media literacy into their core curricula, showing young people that their voice matters.
Lowering the Barriers to Engagement: Governments and institutions must make participation easier. This means ensuring transparency, providing accessible public information, creating meaningful avenues for public consultation on legislation, and protecting civic spaces from repressive laws.
Leading by Example: Each of us must take responsibility. Join a local board. Read beyond your social media feed. Have a difficult conversation with someone who holds a different view. Write to your representative. The habit of participation is contagious.
Democracy is not a machine that runs on its own. It is a living, breathing organism that requires the constant energy of its people. The vote is its heartbeat, but civic participation is the entire circulatory system—delivering oxygen to its limbs, fighting off infections, and allowing it to grow and adapt. Let us not be a generation that merely inherited a democratic system. Let us be the generation that actively nurtured its pulse, ensuring that the powerful, vital rhythm of “government by the people” does not fade into a faint, terminal echo. Our collective future depends on the energy we invest in our democracy today