GHANA : ARE WE RESETTING OR UPDATING?

GHANA: ARE WE “UPDATING” OR “RESETTING”?

By Pastor William Boachie-Ansah

Scriptures Proverbs 11:14, 15:22

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

I have been following the political campaign trails of both NPP and NDC as a patriotic citizen of Ghana for long. But as an I.T. person, I have been struck by the key or catch-phrases of both parties in their recent campaigns on the 2024 Parliamentary and Presidential elections. While NDC is talking about “resetting” Ghana, NPP is talking about “Updating” Ghana. These two words are direct opposites when it comes to my field of computing. .

Being guided by the Good old book, the Bible which admonishes men to seek counselling in their ways of life, I made an attempt to understand what the two key words really mean in governance by consulting the chat apps… and the responses they have provided are very interesting, so I want to share some with you. Maybe they would be of good help about our choices.

Question: Distinguish between "a reset" and "an update" in governance

 Response:

In governance, "reset" and "update" also represent distinct actions, though the specifics depend heavily on the context (e.g., resetting a specific policy versus updating a national strategy).  However, some general distinctions can be made:

1.     A RESET IN GOVERNANCE

A reset in governance implies a significant, often abrupt, change aimed at addressing a crisis or deep-seated dysfunction. It suggests a more radical departure from the existing system or approach.  It often involves:

a.     Overhauling existing structures: This might entail restructuring government agencies, revising institutional mandates, or reforming key processes.

b.    Changing leadership: A reset can involve replacing key personnel to bring in fresh perspectives and approaches.

c.     Shifting priorities:  A reset prioritizes certain policy areas or goals, often abandoning or significantly altering previous ones.

d.    Rebuilding trust: A reset is frequently undertaken to restore public confidence after a period of scandal, failure, or significant disillusionment.

2.     AN UPDATE IN GOVERNANCE

An update in governance, conversely, represents a more incremental and iterative approach to improvement.  It involves refining existing systems, policies, or procedures rather than replacing them entirely. Examples include:

 

a.     Amendments to legislation: Minor changes to laws or regulations to address specific issues or adapt to evolving circumstances.

b.    Policy adjustments: Fine-tuning existing policies based on performance evaluations or new information.

c.     Process optimization: Streamlining existing processes to enhance efficiency or effectiveness.

d.    Technological upgrades:  Implementing new technologies to improve service delivery or data management within the existing governance framework.

The key difference lies in the scale and nature of the change. A reset is a substantial, often disruptive overhaul, while an update represents a more gradual refinement or improvement within an existing framework.

That’s all I gathered from my chat apps.

Now, let’s come back home… NDC and their leader, John Dramani Mahama are calling for a resetting of Ghana. NPP and their leader Mahamud Bawumiah are calling for an upgrade.

All we need to know now is that the choice between a reset and an update often depends on the severity of the problems, the political climate, and the capacity for change within the governing system.

So to you, which one is needed now in Ghana? Let this guide you on Saturday when you enter the voting booth.

God bless our homeland Ghana.

Pastor William Boachie-Ansah 

0244137880 

boachieansah@gmail.com

#PossessingTheNations 

#agentofpeace