Stating that a coup is not the answer to our problems does not mean I am in league with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and countries which insist that irresponsible civilian administrations must be left untouched. My call is against the three types of coups – the Institutional Coup, the Military Coup and Popular Uprising.
A statement alleged to have been made by President George Weah of Liberia puts this across, strongly: “As long as ECOWAS tolerates institutional coups that allow lifetime presidencies, and fraudulent declaration of election results, manipulation of judicial announcements, there will always be military coups. We cannot condemn military coups when we do not condemn those who carry out institutional coups. ECOWAS should work for the interest of our people.”
A constitution should essentially be the true will of the people, and a guide for the constitutional administration, to fairly and justly administer the affairs of the state. But whenever a government in power changes the constitution or writes one to suit the head of state, then an institutional coup has taken place. And this can invite the military coup or popular uprising.
Among all the three military coups that toppled constitutional governments in Ghana, the 1966 coup is justified.
When he became president, Nkrumah kept changing the 1956 Constitution, which was the true will of the people, to the 1964 constitution, which was against the will of the people, making him president for life and Ghana, a one-party state, with his CPP as the only official party. In 1965, Ghanaians no longer elected their MPs, Nkrumah appointed them. The people no longer controlled their destinies so the February 1966 coup came in and overthrew the bogus constitution. After three years, a constitutional government was restored.
All said, even though the military will come in and “do the will of the people,” as they always put it, in the end things could most likely be worse than before.
Perhaps, the only military dictator in Africa who actually turned the lives of his entire people for the better was Col Gaddafi of Libya.
It is clear that, generally, Africa has a big problem when it comes to respecting the will of the people. Civilian presidents will change the constitution to extend their stay in office and military officers will overthrow the constitution and make themselves supreme rulers, either in uniform or later as constitutional leaders.
The civilians will indirectly overthrow the constitution to suit their desires and the military will directly overthrow the constitution through coups.
With military leaders, it is very interesting the way they go. They will entrench themselves in power and after many years, they will set up an assembly to draft a constitution that will mainly suit their desires. And they will stand for elections, win and continue ruling the people. Ghana has a very good example.Some keep going on as heads of state until, another coup topples them or until they finally pass on to the life hereafter.
In some cases, sons of those who passed on,inherited their fathers.This type of dynasty had the Kabila family ruled DR Congo, for twenty-two years and in Chad, the Itno family has been in charge for thirty-three years. In Gabon, the Bongo family has been ruling for fifty-five years and in Togo the Gnassingbe Eyadema family has been ruling for fifty-six years.
We also live in a society where people will justify the wrongs, they do, but they will strongly criticize their neighbours for any wrong they commit. Currently the opposition NDC is attacking the vice president for failed promises, whereas, while in government, the NDC failed to implement the one-term-premium for NHIS it promised to do and instead of reducing fuel prices as also promised, it increased it by 70%. This is what splits the country and the poor suffer most.
We are living in an environment where no one has regards for the welfare of the state but only for their self-interest.
Unless, we become a people, both civilians and military, who resolve to turn new leaves, to abide by the laws, to do what is right and frown upon what is wrong, to build a just society and protect what belongs to all of us, to think nation first, before personal interests and to resolve to do all we can to enable the nation to progress, whatever type of coup that comes, institutional, military or popular uprising, seeking to change the status quo, as the French will say, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose,” the more the change, the more it will remain the same.
No change can be established if that change does not come from within and it must come with sacrifices and good examples for the coming generations to follow. Then all governments will rule to the delight of the people.
Those calling for coup in Ghana may be people under the ages of fifty years who have never experienced the outcome of a military regime.
Coups, whether institutional or military or popular uprising, are not the answer, when we have food sellers selling rotten chicken to the unsuspecting public and nurses demanding eight times more than the official consultation fee before attending to patients.
The perfect coup should be one from within which will topple all evil and wrongs in our person and only after being transformed, will society benefit.
Hon Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
