In an exclusive interview with Mr. Kwame Owusu Danso (KOD), the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Afrafranto Movement, during his Caravan Campaign Tour in the Central Region on the 9th of October, 2024, he expressed deep concerns over the state of Ghana’s political system, laying a portion of the blame squarely at the feet of the media. According to him, the duopolistic political system dominated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has impoverished the nation, and the media, which should act as the gatekeepers of democracy, has become complicit in perpetuating this imbalance.
“For the past 32 years, Ghana’s political space has been hijacked by two parties,” KOD lamented. “Whatever has happened to this country – whether good or bad – is the cumulative effect of what these two parties have done. We are so blessed in human and natural resources, yet we are still poor. At the last count, this was the 17th time we’ve had to go begging at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to survive. We cannot be the number one producer of gold in Africa and still be poor. This paradox is inexcusable.”
KOD, who is also a proud member of the media fraternity, was visibly emotional as he blamed the country’s plight not on a lack of resources, but on a broken system. “It is sad,” he stated. “We have all the quality human and natural resources we need, and yet we are still struggling. Our problem isn’t what we have; it’s the system some of us have intentionally created. Any system that doesn’t make use of its finest talents and minds cannot be called a sustainable system. For the last 32 years, we have been practising a system that only benefits a few while impoverishing the majority.”
KOD singled out the media as one of the key drivers of this system, accusing the press of perpetuating an “eight-year cycle of state capture” between the NPP and the NDC. “The media has unintentionally – or maybe even intentionally – set the stage for this political duopoly to continue, possibly in perpetuity. Just listen to the discussions on our radio and television stations and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. They’ve shut the door on the idea of an independent president or any alternative third force, even though our constitution clearly makes room for it.”
The seasoned journalist did not hold back, criticizing the narrow lens through which the media views political leadership in Ghana. “It seems that no matter how intelligent, competent, visionary, or credible a person is, they can never lead this country unless they contest on the ticket of either of the two main political parties. How can that be a sustainable system? No wonder we are where we are.”
KOD emphasized that the problem extends beyond politics, pointing out that some of the brightest minds and talents in Ghana remain outside the political sphere due to the narrowness of the current system. “Our finest and brightest talents are obviously outside the political space,” he said. “Until we get a system that allows us to fully harness their talents and minds for development, we will be running in circles, going nowhere.”
Touching on the consequences of this entrenched duopoly, KOD did not mince words. “We have created a winner-takes-all system that has fostered state capture between these two parties. Every eight years, we alternate power between the NDC and NPP, while the majority of Ghanaians remain in poverty. Meanwhile, the media keeps fueling this unfortunate situation, perhaps without even realizing it.”
KOD’s final words carried a deep sense of urgency and frustration. “We cannot continue like this. The media must take its role as the fourth estate seriously and stop enabling the status quo. If we don’t break this cycle, Ghana will never rise to its full potential. We owe it to the people to change this narrative. The time to change it is now”
In a nation that prides itself on democracy, KOD’s powerful critique resonates as a wake-up call for the media and the entire political landscape. As he eloquently put it, “Until we create a system that allows all of Ghana’s best minds to lead and contribute, we will remain trapped in this vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.”
