Inclusive governance has emerged over the years to attempt to cure discrimination against women,some ethnic groups, some economic units, the youth, environmental management, lack of access to credit and low participation in financial and economic architecture of a country, region even a continent among others.
Inclusive implies allowing others to participate, access what they have the right to expect.
Suppression whether in the form of access to economic opportunities, distribution of national wealth, voter rights etc does not promote peace and respect for the rights of people.
Discussions about financial inclusion is common among economists and financial sector experts. The truth is that we have other forms of “inclusions “ that should guide nation building.
The distribution of national resources including infrastructure development can be inclusive or exclusive of some parts of the country. It is not for nothing when the Directive principle of State policy demands that appointments to high positions in the civil and public services should be guided by regional balance.
A political party that tends to question the appropriateness of another political party interested in building this country on the principle of inclusiveness has positioned itself as an enemy to the people.
A political party that has realized the value of inclusiveness and has shown the willingness to abide by this noble principle “mean well and will attract the support of the citizenry”.
In November 2019 when the 2020 budget was read in parliament it took Ghanaians one week to complain that the Volta Region was excluded from the allocation of road projects before an appendix capturing some roads was added. This should alert us about the pain associated with discrimination.
When exclusive governance promotes abuse of the fundamental rights and dignity of citizens, the pain is more excruciating.
If employment opportunities are based on only political party membership it establishes a culture of exclusion.
When recent public buildings are still not friendly to physically challenged persons then we do not appreciate the essence of inclusiveness.
Inclusive governance is not about implementing some projects . It goes beyond that. It involves actions, political philosophy, utterances , policy inclination and how policies are implemented.
Inclusive governance is the cure for discrimination, skewed distribution of national resources, negative entitlement, playing members of same ethnic groups against themselves.
Valuable inclusive focused political party policies and leadership is in high demand for the 2020 elections to promote fair opportunities and respect for the rights of people.
It is trite knowledge that those who benefit from exclusion do not find anything wrong and dehumanizing about it and will want it to continue.
Just as the beneficiaries of exclusion fight to maintain, it takes determination and engagement with citizens to change it.
Slavery was fought, exclusion must be fought. Slavery ended and exclusion must end.
