A professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo has urged Ghanaian voters to consider giving persons with little or no education, but have passion to transform the country, a chance at governance.
He said the lawyers and economists who have been at the helm of affairs since the country gained political independence from colonial rule have failed woefully, hence the need to give people who are passionate about the challenges being faced, the opportunity to assume the leadership of the country.
Prof Gyampo explained that failure by the intellectuals, has resulted in less educated individuals venturing into political leadership.
He cited the reported declaration of intent by a former captain of the senior national team, Stephen Appiah (which Appiah has supposedly denied) and other non-intellectuals bidding to enter Parliament as basis for his assertion.
“Let the market women, let the footballers who have passion to solve our water shortage problems, ‘dumsor’ and the other challenges come and solve them,” he suggested while contributing to discussions on the April 27 edition of the Key Points on TV3.
The political science lecturer said failure by the intellectuals to develop the country is worrying.
He blamed Ghana’s underdevelopment on corruption and misgovernance.
“Leadership since independence has failed Ghana. You look at the level of development elsewhere and you compare it to us, it is like we are trying to do things without our soul for our people,” he said.
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He added “It appears we are being wicked to ourselves and the caliber of people we have selected to power the development they have failed.
“We hate ourselves, we get into all manner of corruption and misgovernance, if you look at the caliber of people who want to go to parliament if you look at the caliber of people contesting to be president, some independent candidates, it tells you that we have failed.”