Democracy, Terrorism And Economic Development: The Republic Of Turkey’s Experience
I wish to express my profound gratitude to H.E Nesrin Bayazit, the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana and his Trade Counsellor, Mr. Sahin SARIKAYA on behalf of the Ghanaian business delegation that participated in the just ended Turkey Africa Economic and Business forum in Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center. The team really appreciated your support before and during the summit.
The summit actually offered the business delegation the opportunity to connect with Turkish entrepreneurs and enterprises as well as their counterparts from the other parts of Africa. The services rendered by the hotels, restaurants, transportation were fantastic. There is the need for Africa countries to learn from such experience’ to help champion the course of development on the continent.
Terrorism, Threat to Global Economy
The President of Turkey, H.E Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not only speak about economic partnership but also used the occasion to advice Africa to uphold democracy since it’s the surest way to involve citizens in governance and national development. According to him the July 15th failed coup nearly destroy the gains Turkey made with respect to democracy and economic development but graciously “democracy won.”
A film documentary on the attempted coup was shown to participants to have a fair and better understanding of what transpired on July 15th. President Erdogan admonished African countries to be mindful of Terrorists group. He categorically stated that they are in Africa under the disguise of voluntary and Non-Governmental organizations as well as providing educational support. This revelation broke my heart since Africa may not have the know-how to fish them out especially, in circumstances where they operating as NGO’s.
H.E R.T Erdogan provided names such as the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) and PKK. He said “indeed, FETO deceptive thesis of dialogue between religions paradoxically supports Huntington’s thesis of clash of civilization. FETO prescribes giving in to colonialism, dictatorships and poverty and considers this to be dialogue”
Ghana’s Election 2016, let’s democracy win.
The United States of America, the mother of modern democracy just had peaceful elections even though most people had the shock of their lives with the outcome. The good people of USA have decided and that’s final. Democracy has indeed won.
In Ghana, we will be going to the polls to elect the President and Member of Parliaments come December 7. We should be mindful about the need to conduct ourselves in an atmosphere of responsible citizens. We must not allow the selected few with selfish ambitions to use us to destroy the democratic credentials we crave for ourselves as a nation. I just want to remind every Ghanaian that we have done before and we can do it again.
I wanted to use this platform to caution all political stake holders, especially the Electoral Commission to conduct their businesses in an atmosphere of fairness, objectivity and openness. This will ensure the outcome of the polls and for that matter the results will be accepted by all. Let democracy win after December 7.
Peaceful Elections and Economic Development
No meaningful development can take place in an unstable political environment hence the need for us to enhance and sustain the stable political environment we have created for this country. Investors across the globe were interested in doing business in Ghana and the any positive outcome of the elections will trigger more FDI’s and hence economic and development.
The enemies we must fight as a people are poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, poor sanitation and preventable diseases etc.
Conclusions
The Reggae Legend Bob Marley said “he, who feels it, knows it all” Let’s seriously take the advice given on terrorism by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ghana is bigger than any political party. Let’s democracy win and lets Ghana reign and demonstrate to the world that, indeed, the black man is capable of managing his affairs in a civilized manner.
The Writer is the Country Director for the Institute of Financial Consultants (USA & Canada), Lead Consultant at Nene banks Management Consult and also the Chief Economists at ICEG
By Daniel Amateye Anim, FCE, Ch.Mc, CFC, FCFA, Ch.BC, DipFM
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