Sincerity or the lack of it constitutes an outstanding factor in determining the quality of a government.
It therefore behooves any good government worth its salt to be sincere in their dealings with the people in whose trust they manage the finances of the state.
Any semblance of insincerity and outright lies will not inure to the fostering of trust between the government and the governed or the people.
With a touch of glee President John Mahama recently announced the stoppage of drawing of fuel by government appointees. He made the announcement to present his government as being frugal in the management of the kitty of state.
If that earned him some plaudits from some Ghanaians we wish to inform such persons that Felix Ofosu Kwakye government spokesperson has made a remark which is not in tune with the President’s announcement.
While the President said fuel is no longer being supplied to government appointees, his spokesperson has said that the contrary is the case.
According to him such provision of gratis fuel to appointees is an entitlement and ongoing.
The integrity baggage contained in the varying positions demands that Ghanaians be given the true picture. One of the challenges of mendacity is that it is delicate and requires ample rehearsals so it is not exposed quickly as in the case under dissection.
The President and his spokesperson have not rehearsed the subject well hence the noticeable disparities.
Those who accuse the NDC government of being ‘setting-led’ or put alternatively ‘full of propaganda’ have another example to stand on.
As for their claim of running a lean government the facts to the contrary are too clear to require delving into.
Once upon a time during a campaign session the then NDC presidential candidate now President told his supporters that politics is about blending truth with lies. Churning out to the people the emanating amalgam of truth and lies is what politics is about he suggested. This is why some cynics seem to think that politicians are all the same. They said that about the NDC and NPP.
With examples of good and bad politicians available for verification we disagree with the foregone more so when one of such politicians has openly stated that it is normal to lie in politics because that is a vote puller.
Here is to demand of the government spokesperson the veracity of his words. Is it the case that government appointees draw fuel as opposed to what the President told his compatriots?
Which of the two positions should we take? The President’s or his spokesperson’s?
We may not attract a response especially since this is an embarrassing situation which the spokesperson cannot wriggle himself out of.
Governance is a challenging assignment especially when the philosophy of blending truth and lies is a cornerstone.
Adolf Hitler’s Propaganda Ministry under Goebel used it but as it is said truth will always prevail over lies. Year 2 of the four-year stretch has just started.
