Features
Opinion: Tribalism gaining roots in Ghana’s democracy as a political-dynasty
• No tribe or clan should exercise monopoly in a democracy
With no hard feelings towards any individual or political party, the truth needs to be told. Sometimes, the medicine that will cure someone from his or her infirmity could turn out to be a bitter pill, regardless of who is suggesting it as a remedy. The same is true about truth.
Tribal sentiments or issues in Ghana are very sensitive. It will interest you to know that some Ghanaians will find it very difficult to call a “spade a spade”, with choosing between their tribal affiliations and the truth. They would not mind “turning the other way” when confronted with the truth.
Unfortunately, this false loyalty is not only found in the political arena, but even among Christians. It is sad to add that some people would not mind killing a “fellow Ghanaian” for the sake of his or her tribe.
Instead of tribal sentiments, the following should guide us in our dealings: Firstly, the fact that all human beings come from a common source namely God, who is our creator and by the fact that we are all human beings. Secondly, we belong to the same country.
Thirdly, we belong to a tribe, a clan and then finally a family. So, for anything to work for the greater good, the first and second levels of trace should be at the back of our minds before getting sentimental about one’s tribe.
For most African countries and Ghana, tribalism is gaining deeper roots in every sphere of our lives. When we choose leaders based on tribal affiliations, or the baton of leadership is tossed within one particular tribe, family or clan, it is no longer democracy but a gradual formation of a political dynasty.
Considering the number of tribes in Ghana, it will be unwise for any tribe or clan to exercise monopoly in political democracy. If care is not taken, with time this will create confusion, tension and eventually conflict.
Ghana is one country that has not been spared tribal conflicts over the years. Therefore, to nip these disheartening experiences of the past in a bud, we should not pretend all is well and continue to encourage tribal sentiments in politics, in order not to be taken by surprise.
A lot of countries, particularly African Countries speak highly of Ghana’s Political Democracy. Nevertheless, it is sad to hear leaders with pedigree, who should know better, allow tribal sentiments impede our politics and democracy.
Selecting the leaders of a country should not include: it is the turn of my tribe or clan’s mate to become the next president, he or she is a financier of the party, he or she is loyal to the party, he has held several positions in either the party or a particular government.
Others include: he has been vying for the position for a very long time, he is my nephew, he is popular (even criminals are popular), he is a nice person, he is rich, either his or her parents was a leader and he or she is a known figure in politics so make him a leader. (What has he got to show for his long stay in politics? This is like marrying a bad partner with the hope that after the marriage ceremony he or she will change). That is a huge risk and not leadership traits or qualities.
Unfortunately, in Ghana today, the above criteria seem to be in place for choosing leaders or political leaders. A politician and a leader are not necessarily synonymous; most often than not many people take the two to mean the same. This is why at the end of the day, we all fall victim of “putting square pegs in round holes”.
Political party leaders and members I guess are aware that Ghana as a country is bigger than any political party and therefore their activities and sentiments should be geared towards the development of the country and maintaining peace. When conflict of interest, nepotism, greed, selfishness and segregations get in the way, tribalism gains roots. Members and leaders of every political party should behave or act within the confines of the laws of the country, otherwise these few, will end up putting uncountable lives in jeopardy.
The right value cannot be placed on something until it is lost. Peace is one of them.
By Nicholas Nibetol Aazine, SVD
Writer’s Email: justiceandpeaceint@gmail.com or nicholasbetol@gmail.com
This week I have a very strong desire to put on my Apostolic Cap and talk about the power available to children of God which we can utilise to generate positive outcomes, in our lives.
There is a phrase in the Bible that if Christians meditate on, can immensely transform their lives. In Matthew 28:6 there is a phrase “… as he said…” according to the King James Version.
Thus phrase forms part of a statement declared by an angel of God to two women who were disciples of Jesus who had gone to his tomb early in the morning on the third day after his death.
According to the Biblical account, the stone covering the entrance of the tomb had been rolled away and an Angel was sitting on it and he made the statement to the effect that the Jesus they are seeking is not there and that he had risen, as he said before his death.
His resurrection affirmed the authenticity and dependability of the word of Jesus and therefore the word of God.
Christianity has to do with faith in the word of God. Pastor Mensa Otabil said if we view Christianity as an inside out view, you would go inside to operate the power that is in you.
As a Christian, the spirit of God and therefore the power of God, dwells in you. Anyone who is aware of this truth, does not go around seeking to have a so called powerful person resolve his or her spiritual issues.
Most Christians who move from prophet to prophet, do not believe that the spirit of God which operates in a Pastor or Prophet, is the same spirit that dwells in him or her.
In fact , that Christian may be more ‘powerful’ than the Prophet or Pastor he is going to for prayers because he is living a holy life, which is pleasing to God, for God is no respecter of persons according to Acts 10:34-35.
God does not give out his spirit in different measures to indwell believers. The spirit of God that dwells in a new convert, is the same spirit that dwells in a Bishop or a Prophet or an Evangelist or an Elder or a Deacon.
All you need to do as a child of God is to believe in the word of God and know that it works and that according to 1 John 4:4 we, Christians, that the Spirit of God dwells in us have overcome the world and Jesus in us, is greater than the Devil who is out in the world, wrecking havoc all around.
If we realise that we have overcome the Devil and everything he controls, then we can believe and act in faith and make declarations and just as Christ declared that he will die and on the third day, he will rise from the dead and it manifested as he said, there shall be a manifestation of our declarations also.
The problem of modern day Christians is that, a lot of them, do not study and meditate on the word of God, so they do not witness the manifestation of the power of God, in their lives.
Such an experience over time, give them the impression that the spirit of God dwells in different dimensions in believers. This then leads them to seek solutions to their challenges from so called powerful men of God.
Some Pastors also fall into this misconception of the measure of the spirit of God in believers. When the size of a Pastor’s church for instance, is not increasing the way he had been praying for self-doubt sometimes begin to set in.
Especially, if he begins to compare his church with that of say a colleague from the same Bible School, then he begins to wonder if there is not a spiritual secret he is not aware of.
This is when, if care is not taken, fellow Pastors who appears to be very successful in the ministry but are using occultic powers, could sway them from the narrow path and get them trapped in the Devil’s clutches and eventually and inevitably, destroy their lives. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Introduction
You have been there. Twenty tabs open comparing laptops. A blank page for an email you’ve been “thinking about” for three days. A menu with 30 options and you leave hungry.
This is decision paralysis: the state where the volume of information, options, or perceived stakes prevents you from making a decision at all. It’s not laziness. It’s a cognitive overload response.
In a data-rich environment, it’s becoming the default mode for both individuals and organisations.
This article breaks down why it happens, how it shows up, what it costs, and how to break it.
1. What decision paralysis actually is?
Decision paralysis is a failure of the decision-making system to convert information into action. Psychologists call it ‘analysis paralysis’ or ‘choice overload.’
It has three components:
1. Cognitive overload: Working memory can hold between four to seven chunks of information at once. When you try to track 20 variables, the system freezes.
2. Anticipatory regret: You overestimate the pain of making the wrong choice. The brain avoids the emotional cost by avoiding the choice.
3. Ambiguity aversion: Humans prefer known risks over unknown ones. When outcomes are uncertain, we stall.
The result is not neutral. Not deciding is a decision. It costs time, momentum, and opportunity
2. Why it’s getting worse now
2.1 Infinite options
Amazon has 350 million products. Netflix has 6000+ titles. Dating apps have unlimited profiles. The paradox of choice: more options increase initial satisfaction but decrease final satisfaction and increase regret.
2.2 Information abundance without synthesis
You can find 50 studies on sleep. Each one has caveats, conflicting results, and different methodologies. Without a framework to integrate them, more data creates more confusion, not clarity. This connects directly to the “data-rich, wisdom-poor” problem.
2.3 Reversibility anxiety
In the digital age, most decisions feel permanent. A bad post goes viral. A bad hire is public on LinkedIn. A bad career move is visible. The fear of irreversible error makes people delay.
2.4 Algorithmic mirroring
Platforms show you what you already engage with. This creates an illusion that there’s one ‘best’ option you are missing. You keep searching, convinced the optimal choice is one more scroll away.
3. How it shows up
Personal Level
Cannot pick a career path after six months of ‘research’
Spend two hours choosing a movie and watch nothing
Delay sending an email because it ‘isn’t perfect’
3.1 Organisational level
Teams spend 80 per cent of time in meetings gathering data, 20 per cent deciding
Product teams delay launch waiting for “one more data point”
KPIs multiply but no strategic choice is made
3.2 Common cognitive tells:
Endless comparison tables
Asking for one more opinion
Reframing the problem instead of solving it
Feeling drained after thinking but not acting
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
