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Pressure groups that have impacted positively on Ghana's democracy

In Ghana from 1992 to 2017, political pressure groups have made meaningful impact on our democracy.

These they achieve through advocacy, public awareness programs, policy research, lobbying of parliament, public opinion polls and organized protests.

Focusing on Ghana, we don't seem to have these serious movers and shakers in place in the system save for the odd union here and there who come out with angry faces and loud voices amidst jama, chanting and kpanlogo dances with associated unrest vying for change.

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The whole idea of kicking up a stink against policies and organisations in a bid for positive change or prodding policies in the right direction away from disaster is practically non-existent in our society.

The media associations are too busy chasing politicians to find out who just had a gold tooth fitted recently and barely have time to advocate for decentralization.

We can mention hundreds but only few are significant in our democracy.

Names such as Committee for Joint Action (CJA), Let my vote count alliance (LMVCA), OccupyGhana, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), etc.

Committee for Joint Action (CJA)

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The CJA, a pressure group supposedly formed to speak for the voiceless was championed by Managing editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr and supported by former ministers and deputies in the erstwhile government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In 2008, they demonstrated across the nooks and crannies of the country, accusing the Kufuor administration of corruption, insensitivity, bad governance, and topped it up with this cocaine issue.  Anytime fuel price increases, armed robbers attacked, the CJA pointed their crooked fingers at Kufuor.

When the Kufour administration wanted to sell Ghana Telecom, the late President Atta Mills led a CJA demonstration to kick against it.  He was seen carrying a placard with the inscription: 'Ghanaians can manage their own businesses' and many other developments the group kicked against whiles in opposition.

Let my vote count alliance (LMVCA)

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LMVCA is a civil society pressure group committed to preserving the integrity of the electoral process and democracy in Ghana.

The multi-party alliance was formed to educate Ghanaians about the need for them to insist that their votes were factored into the outcome of national elections.

They urged the Supreme Court to ensure that justice was not sacrificed under the pretext of peace because the ordinary Ghanaian who stood in long queues to cast their votes would not take kindly to an abuse of their trust reposed in the judiciary.

Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG)

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AFAG is pro-democracy group formed in 2009 with the sole objective of ensuring national administrations are accountable to the people of Ghana.

The political pressure group was formed just 5 days after Professor Mills was sworn in as President and their main agenda is to undermine the Mills administration and make it unpopular to enable them grab power in December 2012 but it failed.

When the AFAG was formed by a group of young men from the opposition parties some two years ago, they were however, congratulate them for coming together to fight for the voiceless.

On second thought, a lot of Ghanaians shelved the idea because like many groups that have come and gone, they may have a fine idea but lack the courage to hold the bull by the horns.

Then they started issuing interesting statements and challenging the status quo.  Unlike the CJA led by Kwesi Pratt, who insulted the sensibility of Ghanaians and even the then sitting president in the person of John Agyekum Kufuor, this particular group is made up of well cultured young men with a purpose.

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They seldom backfire since they thoroughly make research before issuing any statement.

However, what is seriously lacking in the activities of the AFAG is their inability to get their roots in the other regions apart from Accra.  Some Ghanaians had cause to write some time ago that people who live in Accra should not have the funny feeling that Accra is synonymous to Ghana.  In fact, there are millions of people out there who want to be part of AFAG and sometimes join the demonstrations but sadly the group is held up in Accra alone.

OccupyGhana

OccupyGhana is a social and political non-partisan pressure group. They are passionately committed to ensuring that Ghana develops to its full economic potential and remains a strong democracy

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OccupyGhana is formed out of a philosophy of positively changing mindsets, systems and structures leading ultimately to the attainment and sustenance of good governance.

They have promised continue to exist as a watch-dog to hold all elected governments accountable for their actions and celebrate good governance and be a positive renovation of developing strategies to ensure that all governments, irrespective of political party, are accountable to Ghanaians

OccupyGhana build alliances and partnerships with other Civil Society Organizations, Think Tanks and political pressure groups to analyze, review public policies and initiatives.

But they are just like the CJA who are aligned with the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Many have been appointed by Nana Addo to the various public offices. Though they’ve played their part as watch dogs, a lot needs to be done to be objective and not to be corrupt within and deceive the public.

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Where does the accountability lies?

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