T
The mark of a successful government is one which has developed or improved upon the framework for a systematic, functional and sustainable socio-economic value creation system for a country and her citizens. A successful value creation system therefore delivers sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity, protects the sovereignty and security of a nation state, develops, nurtures and guarantees individual freedom, liberty and rights for every citizen.
In nations that are termed successful, where socio-economic prosperity and security is the ultimate yard stick by which governments are judged by their citizens, the structuring and development of such value chains are done through a functional ‘social contract’, between an elected government and the citizens. The role of the governments, as the employed agent, is to construct and maintain a framework for sustainable value creation in which the citizens will have the freedom and access to the means to create value and wealth; and to enjoy security for themselves and their properties. The key foundation of a government’s role in honouring the tenets of the social contract is ‘Responsibility’ and ‘Selflessness in service to the nation’. How this responsibility is handled and delivered by a government makes all the difference to a nation and its citizens. It defines the nation, its people and what stake her children will inherit from the actions their government and current citizenry.
In today’s Gambia, it is this ‘Responsibility’ and ‘Selflessness in service to the nation’ that is glaringly missing. In the process, the word patriotism has been the most abused word. The ultimate reason why these vital ingredients in nation building became missing over the last 15 or so years, is because government and governance in The Gambia has gradually and systematic been de-institutionalised. What we see over this period is the gradual and systematic individualisation of government and governance in the country; and in the process, ‘Responsibility and ‘Selflessness in service’ to the country have been eroded to such an extent that the state has gradually become dysfunctional. The only office of state that has become important in the country and which is synonymous to Government is the Office of the President. The state ministries and department have become structured to serve the Office of the President rather than become units of specialist policy incubators focused of structuring and delivering the socio-economic value chain frameworks that will support the socio-economic prosperity process for the benefit of citizens. The average educated Gambian in the country would probably not be able to say what the role and value of individual state ministries and departments are.
The outcome of this gradual and systematic de-institutionalisation of state functions and the move towards an individual centric system is that no one has taken ‘Responsibility’ and no one knows where ‘Responsibility’ lies. The capacity of state ministries and department to deliver has been systematically undermined yet they are expected to take responsibility for failures but not for positive outcomes. The work environment that should promote and nurture ‘Selflessness’ in service to the nation has been decimated and replaced with cronyism and infighting; and national service has become a race to serve the Office of the President rather than the citizens.
In today’s Gambia, 95% of the citizens don’t have a clue what the government is doing on their behalf, they don’t know how their hard earned taxes are being spent nor do they know how much debt they and their children have to repay for the rest of their lives in the name of the nation. It is also the case that no can tell you with a degree of clarity what the economic policy of the government is; what’s its foreign policy, what’s its policy is with respect to national security. What the Head of State says becomes state policy, his personal opinion become law.
The consequences are that the ‘social contract’ that should have epitomised and strengthened ‘Responsibility’ and ‘Selflessness’ in nation building, has been shredded and confined to the dust bin. In the process, ordinary Gambian citizens have not only become victims of a self-centred system but also have to take blame for the breakdown of the ‘social contract. The effects of de-institutionalisation of state of affairs and in the process, the erosion of ‘Responsibility’ and ‘Selflessness’ in nation building are being manifested in the long-term deterioration in living standards, a semblance of dysfunctionality in the managing the affairs of the state and a culture of suspicion, victimisation, witch-hunt that has gradually and systematically shredded the much cherished fabric of Gambian society.
I believe The Gambia government should fundamentally revaluate governance in the country. I believe a systematic revaluation, where the much used phrases of responsibility and selflessness are reconfigured towards an institutionalisation nation state rather than individuals. Where the ingenuity, experience and drive of everyday Gambians are directed towards creating the value chain system that builds nations rather than individuals. I believe the government of The Gambia should begin the process to renew the promise of a functional social contract that focuses on inclusive nation building rather than individuals. This opinion is a call to renew our collective drive towards a renewed social contract in nation building.
I stand to be corrected in this opinion.
May God Bless The Gambia.