Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has raised concerns about the tendency of Ghanaians to elevate political figures who engage in deception, fraud, and dishonesty, rather than holding them accountable.
Bagbin attributed this issue to the country’s failure to establish systems that promote ethical behavior and transparency.
“The fact that we have not been able to educate ourselves. When I talk about education, I am not talking about formal education, read and write. Even informal education in the family. We have not been able to imbibe the values that build integrity, not just integrity in the person, honesty, but also in our systems. So, we glorify people who have developed systems to defraud, cheat, and deceive us,” he noted in a recent interview on TV3.
He emphasized that the problem extends beyond formal education to include the values instilled within families and communities.
According to him, the lack of such values leads to a situation where those who exploit and deceive are celebrated rather than scrutinized.
In a recent interview on TV3, Bagbin also criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, suggesting that his leadership has undermined public confidence in the democratic process.
He expressed disappointment that the President, who was once seen as a beacon of change, has let down many of his supporters.
“So many people believed in him, that he was going to make a difference, but unfortunately, he has disappointed all of them. His followers in his party do not have hope in him again. I described him as a lame duck, and he wasn’t happy with that description. But it was a statement of fact. None of his party members are looking up to him for leadership. Authority has moved from his hand, and they are looking for where to position it now,” he stated.
Bagbin described Akufo-Addo as a “lame duck,” noting that even within his own party, there is a lack of faith in his leadership, with members now searching for new sources of authority.