Kwaku Kwarteng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Obuasi West has emphasised the importance of nationalism in politics.
He argued that nationalism, defined as the identification with one’s nation and support for its interests, should be the guiding principle for political leaders.
Speaking on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV on Tuesday, Mr Kwarteng highlighted that true nationalism involved prioritising the nation’s welfare above all else.
“Being nationalistic and speaking for the future of the country is also politics and that’s how I think politics ought to be. What oftentimes we call politics. It is what politics ought to be not,” he stated.
The Obuasi West MP further voiced concerns about the current political climate in the country, pointing out that people often blindly support their party’s actions, regardless of whether they are right or wrong.
Mr Kwarteng emphasised the importance of questioning the direction in which this type of politics was leading the country.
He linked the country’s challenging economic situation to this political behaviour and explained that the current state of affairs was not solely due to the actions of the present government, but a result of the trajectory set by previous administrations.
“I think for a long time in the country but also in other places, we do the wrong kind of politics. The politics that says no matter what happens so long as it is by your opposing political party or opposing ruling party you should oppose it and criticise it and if it is your own government, you must always praise it, and we have never paused to ask where that kind of politics is leading us.”
“The evidence now when we see where Ghana is going not necessarily because of what this government has done or did not do but because of historically the wrong path we’ve been walking but in respect of managing our economy.
“That is what has brought us here. I think we’ve come to a point where we all will have to ask ourselves do we want a country or we want politics,” he stated.