By Fiifi AFENYI-DONKOR (Rev)
The phrase “The voice of the people is the voice of God” is a famous Latin maxim, Vox populi, Vox Dei. This phrase suggests that the opinions and beliefs of the majority are a reflection of the divine will or the voice of God. However, this phrase is not necessarily meant to be taken literally. There are biblical examples that also suggest that God may take the side of minority groups, especially having a preferential option for the marginalized in our communities, and that the majority may not always be right.
Historical perspective
In ancient Rome, this phrase was used to convey the idea that the collective opinion of the people was considered sacred and should be respected. In Christian tradition, the phrase has been interpreted in various ways:
- Some see it as a reflection of God’s sovereignty, suggesting that God works through the collective wisdom and consensus of the people.
- Others view it as a caution against blindly following public opinion, recognizing that the voice of the people can sometimes be misguided or contrary to God’s will.
- Some theologians argue that the voice of the people is only the voice of God if it aligns with Scripture and God’s revealed will.
Modern usage
In modern times, the phrase has also been used in various contexts beyond religion, including politics and democracy, emphasizing the importance of listening to the collective voice of the people in decision-making processes. However, it’s important to recognize that the voice of the people is not always infallible and should be balanced with wisdom, discernment, and a commitment to justice and righteousness.
Ghana’s current situation
Ghana finds herself in an election year, whereby the majority of the citizenry must affirm the viability of the electoral candidates both presidential and parliamentary to be given the nod to rule for the next four years. Ghana is noted to be notoriously religious, thus some electoral candidates might be using the pulpits and religious jargon and phrases to advocate for divine legitimacy to rule. Additionally, numerous prophecies would be spewed out “left, right, and center” to support such legitimacy to rule. In the midst of all this, we must first remember the distinction between “body politic” and partisan politics.
The body politic as a catalyst for national consciousness
The term “body politic” refers to the collective entity of a nation, state, or society, considered as a unified whole. It is a metaphorical expression that likens the state or society to a human body, with various parts working together to form a functional whole. In this context, the different parts of the body politic might include; The head of state (e.g., president, monarch) as the “head,” The government or administration as the “brain,” The legislature as the “heart,” The judiciary as the “conscience, “The citizens or people as the “body” or “limbs.” The term “body politic” emphasizes the idea that the collective entity is greater than the sum of its individual parts. The second stanza of our National Anthem is very supportive;
“Hail to thy name, O Ghana,
To thee we make our solemn vow:
Steadfast to build together
A nation strong in Unity;
With our gifts of mind and strength of arm,
Whether night or day, in the midst of storm,
In every need whatsoever the call may be,
To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore.”
In reference to the body politic, our national consciousness should enable us to do our “politicking” based on developmental issues devoid of partisan, racial or religious affiliations. it is not a crime to belong to or identify with any political party or person, however, Ghana must come first in our consideration. The political ideology that most favours the body politic is democracy.
Democracy
Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the hands of the people, who exercise this power directly or through elected representatives. It is characterized by the principles of political equality, participation, and accountability. Originating from ancient Greece, the term democracy combines the Greek words “demos” (people) and “kratos” (power or rule), essentially meaning “rule by the people.
Abraham Lincoln famously defined democracy as the government by the people, for the people, and of the people. Being a government by the people means it is not imposed by anyone but chosen by the people themselves through elections under the guidance of a self-chosen constitution. This alludes to the constitutional and representative nature of democracy. Being for the people means it ensures that goods and services as well as the protection offered by the State are, as much as possible, fairly distributed to the benefit of all. The emphasis here is on social democracy. Finally, being of the people means that it protects the individual rights and freedoms of all sections of the populace. Here, liberal democracy is brought into sharp focus. In a nutshell, the core of democracy is the voice of the people.
The preamble of the 1992 Republican Constitution affirms the above by saying,
“We the People of Ghana, IN EXERCISE of our natural and inalienable right … AND IN SOLEMN declaration and affirmation of our commitment to; Freedom, Justice, Probity, and Accountability; The Principle that all powers of Government spring from the Sovereign Will of the People; The Principle of Universal Adult Suffrage; The Rule of Law; The protection and preservation of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom, Unity and Stability for our Nation; DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”
Flowing from this, there cannot be Democracy without the voice of the people.
The inherent dangers of democracy
Winston Churchill is known to have said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.” This means that although democracy is by far the most politically friendly of all political ideologies of the state, it also has its many inherent weaknesses. One of the demerits of democracy is what is commonly known as “disease of democracy”. Democracy suffers from an incurable disease of frequently electing Political leaders who make wonderful promises to help their constituents and fail and only attempt at helping the people when they need to seek re-election amidst a tough competition. In our parts of the world, this seems to be the case; where some electorates like Esau would exchange their birthright (vote) for a morsel of food (small cash or in kind). Unfortunately, what happens at the political party primaries where it is now an open secret that party delegates demand money and other items from the would-be-electoral candidate, is not an isolated incident but the beginning of the flame that leads to the fire outbreak of fake promises during the main elections.
The way forward
The citizenry must be discerning and demand accountability of promises prior to elections. Besides this general claim, we must also praise the few gallant political leaders who have chosen to be different from this stock and also just like the proverbial Oliver Twist humbly ask for more. According to the 2021 census, 71.3% of Ghanaians identify as Christians. It presupposes that seven out of every ten members of the political class are Christians. Imagine the positive impact on our political sphere, if this enormous proportion of the political class were to take the lead in “healing” the disease of democracy.
Subsequently, there must be an attitudinal change for both the electorates and the electoral candidates. It is very easy for those of us who are not in political leadership to criticise the political class, sometimes what happens in our own “small corners” leaves much to be expected if we were equally given the nod to rule. In the words of John Dalberg-Acton, “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” There must be a total transformation of heart and mind. Even a “Third force” cannot help us if we do not change our attitudes. A call for communal transformation as echoed in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is apt, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV). This verse is a promise from God to His people, urging them to humility, prayer, and repentance, with the assurance of forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It’s a call to spiritual revival and a reminder of God’s desire to bless and prosper His people when they seek Him with a humble heart.
Conclusion
The idea that the voice of the people is the voice of God isn’t inherently guaranteed unless we prioritise national consciousness over party affiliations in our political endeavours, alongside cultivating transformed minds and hearts for effective nation-building. This approach is crucial as democracy is seen as a fundamental pillar of contemporary governance, fostering stability, prosperity, and human development.
The Rev’d Fiifi Afenyi-Donkor, is an Ordained Minister, Methodist Church Ghana.
