Kwaku Azar: Ghana Must Build Strong Institutions, Not Depend on Political Connections
Legal scholar and governance advocate Kwaku Azar has used recent comments by retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba to argue that Ghana’s biggest governance challenge is not politicians abandoning their supporters after elections, but a system that makes personal political connections essential for accessing opportunities.
In a Facebook post, Kwaku Azar reflected on Justice Atuguba’s observation that some politicians who frequently contacted him before the 2024 elections no longer respond to his calls after assuming office.
He argued that this culture encourages cronyism and nepotism, leading many citizens to invest heavily in political relationships with the expectation that those connections will continue to provide benefits after elections.
However, Azar noted that it is unrealistic to expect politicians to maintain close personal relationships with everyone who supported them during campaigns. Instead, he believes Ghana should focus on building institutions that operate fairly and transparently, regardless of political influence.
He called for systems where jobs, school admissions, contracts and promotions are awarded through clear rules, competitive processes and merit-based decisions rather than personal access to influential politicians.
According to Kwaku Azar, a well-functioning democracy should ensure that citizens do not need political godfathers to receive public services or opportunities. In his view, strong institutions—not personal connections—should be the foundation of good governance.He concluded that the true measure of institutional strength will be the day it no longer matters whether a politician answers a citizen’s phone call because the institutions themselves will be responsive and fair.
Source: Kwaku Azar Facebook page
