Is meritocracy fading in Ghana? Replaced by “whom you know” rather than “what you know”? Do you like nepotism yourself?

Yes, you do! We would all inherently be happy to receive a favour or be given a “sweet” job offer by a relative in politics.

The reason we sometimes complain about nepotism is because we have not had the opportunity yet.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against meritocracy. I am only attempting to challenge the general perception that nepotism is inherently bad.

Nepotism is favouritism based on family ties or personal connections, often seen in politics, where appointments are made not for competence but for loyalty.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.”

My argument here is purely based on my observations and experiences both at home and abroad.

In principle, nepotism in itself is not wrong but becomes problematic when it is abused by the beneficiaries, thereby failing to yield the desired results. I will explain this from three perspectives: the good, the bad, and the greed.

The Good:

I lived and worked in the Middle East for some years, and anyone who has lived there or monitored events in that region will tell you that nepotism is part of their social fabric.

Almost every top government agency is filled with a brother or relative of the Emir, Sheikh, or Prince running the particular country.

The big difference is that the relatives put at the helm of affairs know very well they cannot joke with accountability, and in some cases, their KPIs or deliverables are set higher than those of non-relatives occupying similar positions.

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It was once reported that a Sheikh had his own brother jailed for corruption charges—yes, it’s that serious.

I appreciate the fact that family members are put in key positions because it is a monarchy that must be protected and sustained.

However, it serves as a good example of effective nepotism where brothers and cousins run the show, and the countries tend to see real results in the lives of their citizens.

In the West or most developed countries, several examples abound where presidents and prime ministers appoint their cronies to government roles, ensuring they deliver the needed results:

  • Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law) and Ivanka Trump (Trump’s daughter) held senior advisory roles in the White House during his first term. His son-in-law still plays a key role in his political engagements.
  • Robert F. Kennedy served as Attorney General under his brother, President John F. Kennedy. He had the necessary legal qualifications, so why not?
  • In the UK, titles, wealth, and positions are inherited automatically by birth rather than earned through a meritocratic process.
  • The Trudeau family legacy in Canada is a clear case of nepotism. Did Justin Trudeau deliver after inheriting his father’s legacy as Prime Minister?

These examples in itself do not justify nepotism, but the point is they deliver the necessary results – the bottom-line.

One of the best ministers in Kufuor’s government were family members: Dr. Addo Kufuor (as Defence Minister) and the late J.H. Mensah as Majority Leader and Senior Minister.

I argue here that it is the output that determines whether nepotism should be categorised as good or bad.

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The truth is, if you happen to secure a role for which you qualify through a politically exposed friend or family member, you wouldn’t complain or be likely to turn it down. Why then do we complain when it favours others?

The Bad:

As indicated earlier, it is the undesired outcome, more than just the act of nepotism itself that should be considered bad.

It becomes worse when the appointing authority places a square peg in a round hole, leading to incompetence and colossal failure—as we experienced with Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister under the Akufo-Addo administration.

He might have done well in private business but struggled to deliver as Finance Minister. In that case, nepotism is seen as bad.

In Ghana, the constitution allows the president to appoint over 5,000 people to various positions.

The president cannot directly know the competence of all these individuals, so he relies on recommendations from spouses, family members, friends, and associates.

This is the problematic bit: the longer the chain of influence, the more likely the appointment could go wrong. This makes nepotism appear bad.

When this happens, appointees often feel more accountable to their benefactors instead of the general public, breeding corruption.

Institutions are weakened when critical roles are filled by incompetent people, leading to inefficiencies. This also demotivates employees in the public sector and citizens at large, hampering productivity.

If unchecked, key sectors such as education, health, and the economy are mismanaged by less competent individuals, whose poor decisions lead to economic mismanagement, policy failures, and underdevelopment.

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The Greed:

The saddest part is when family and friends in public positions prioritise personal and family gain over the collective good. This can manifest in several ways:

  • The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Appointees reserve jobs, contracts, and privileges for family and friends, denying ordinary citizens access to opportunities. The Agyapa Deal comes to mind—a classic example of nepotism turning into greed.
  • Nepotistic appointments often lead to abuse of incumbency, with state resources misused for personal enrichment. Greed leads to public funds meant for development projects being diverted to benefit a select few.
  • When nepotism turns to greed, it stifles democracy. Decisions are made to protect personal and family interests rather than serve the public.
  • In some cases, decisions are even designed to ensure cash flow to families and allies, even when out of power.
  • For family glory, nepotism becomes greed when leaders create political dynasties, ensuring their families’ dominance in politics long after they are gone.

Asiedu Nketia’s son has just entered Parliament, and how he succeeded is obvious. A former president’s daughter also won her seat over a supposed strong NDC member—these are just a few examples.

In conclusion, nepotism is not inherently bad. Its impact depends on how it is managed, the competence of the beneficiaries, and whether the collective good is prioritised over personal gain.

LetloveLead @followers @highlight #GodBlessOurHomelandGhana

AMA GHANA is not responsible for the reportage or opinions of contributors published on the website.

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