Our Politics and Governance Are Really About Money Making—MFWA Director

Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has strongly criticised the growing trend of monetisation in Ghana’s political landscape, claiming that the core of politics and governance in the country has shifted towards financial gain rather than public service.

In an interview on JoyNews Newsfile on Saturday, January 25, Braimah expressed his concerns about the increasing number of political appointees who are motivated more by financial incentives than their commitment to public service.

He argued that the emphasis on money over expertise is becoming a prominent feature of the nation’s political system.

“Sometimes it’s not about the skills. It’s not about the expertise. I keep saying that at this stage, until something changes, our politics and our governance are really about money making,” Braimah stated.

He highlighted a troubling trend where professionals with stable and lucrative careers in sectors such as banking, insurance, and consultancy abandon their jobs to pursue government positions. According to Braimah, these appointments are often motivated by the financial benefits, contracts, and perks that come with such roles, rather than a genuine desire to serve the public.

“We saw under President Akufo-Addo, for example, persons who had decent jobs with banks, insurance companies, and so on. All of a sudden, they were leaving to take on positions within the finance sector.

You would wonder, if someone is managing an organisation or is a consultant, why would they leave to become CEO of this or that? It’s all about the money, the contracts, and the perks,” he added.

Braimah called for a greater focus on accountability, performance, and transparency in governance. He echoed the sentiments of President John Dramani Mahama, who recently urged ministers to remember that their power is granted by the people and should be exercised with humility.

“I am hoping they adhere to that,” Braimah said, stressing the need for political leaders to prioritise the people’s welfare above personal financial gain.

As Ghana continues to navigate its political challenges, Braimah’s remarks serve as a reminder that for the country’s governance to truly serve the public, a shift away from the monetisation of politics is crucial.

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