Doors to Diplomacy 2006 Project 4234, Mfantsimpim Schoo, Cape Coast, Ghana

 

FORMS OF THE GAMEPolitics as a game assumes many forms as many games do. There is the existence of street football, street basketball. And even in the world of basketball, there is AND 1 and NBA. There is also the backyard football that is popularly known as small by Ghanaian children. There is also the existence of championships of different game and sport. Since this discussion is about politics being likened to a game where friendliness and fair play exist so has politics many forms.

Politics as a game has many forms. These forms depend on two main issues
1.Where it is played.
2.How it is played.
These two main issues were chosen for the purpose of our discussion.
Speaking of where it is played just as there is back yard games there is indoor politics.

INDOOR POLITICS

Indoor politics is defined as politics within a political organization. Better still it is a game played among players of the same team during the training session of many sports teams preparing for a crucial match against  another team, each player contend with other players for his or her position , in order to be a part of the first choice team . So it is in the game of politics.

           Within a political party people in the party contest for various positions in that political party. Some do contest for party chairman, secretary and some organizing secretaries and other party executive positions. This can be said to be a form intra-political  affairs, where within  an organization there is  power struggle. This organization may also be in contention with other political parties, example, there might be a power struggle such as what happened in last year December when the NDC and the ruling party NPP went to congress to elect its party executives which they both believed that these executives will lead them to victory in the upcoming 2008 elections. This can be called an indoor type of the game of politics.

           Also, the peaceful game of politics is practiced by everyone, even in the home, everyday, people are practicing politics, example, when one needs something from his or her father, how to get it from him, there is some game of politics that has to be played in terms of convincing your dad to get what you need. Politics is the way or mechanism by which we should be governed as defined earlier by a player of the game of  politics (Mr. Kwabena Agyapong).Therefore, in the home the style of living in the house as directed by the parents can also be to be some kind of politics. In some homes in Ghana, the autocratic style is use , some adopt the Laisez-faire style(this is where the authority  that is the father or mother or both leave the people in the home to do what they think is best for them.

            Therefore, it can be said that everywhere politics can be practiced, even in the home. The home politics (non-partisan politics and the intra-party politics) are both indoor. The only difference is the competition in the latter one.

OUTDOOR POLITICS

Outdoor politics is just the direct opposite of indoor politics. It is a type of politics which is practiced between a political organizations or party and another. Outdoor politics, unlike indoor politics is an inter political affair, where one political party contests with another political party in election for power. Example, after the NDC and NPP had gone into their boardroom and elected their leaders, it therefore happened that these leaders as a party will then contend with the other political parties to be leaders of the country. The contention between the two parties are classified as outdoor politics.
Also, if Accra Hearts Of Oak and Kotoko should play against each other, it is a form of inter political affair as in politics. But, before the match is played they had played against each other to select their best choice for the game. Also, outdoor politics was defined by Hon. Ndebugre as “a higher level of competitive partisan politics”.
         It can therefore be stated that the difference between the two is
It is competitive
It is partisan
It is politics
This is not to say that the competition is a matter of life and death, to be prepared to  go any length in order to win the competition o. The game of politics as a competition should be held as much as possible and also be peaceful. When these factors are inculcated into politics , that peace and health, it will be  useful and also it will erase the notion that politics is a dirty game. Let us make politics a clean and peaceful game!!


HOW IT IS PLAYED

There two major ways of playing the game of politics. The fair play of politics and the unfair play of politics. But I believe that only the former is necessary for our development in the society. To make politics a clean and peaceful game we ought  to look and study the fair play of the game of politics . When the good is studied the bad  is easily forgotten<when the light is on darkness cannot raise it ugly head up. We together can make this game a healthy and clean game for everyone to enjoy  than to speak ill of it. If we both don’t, we might be the same people to turn round and accuse or utter dirt about the game of politic.

FAIR PLAY

Fair play is something that has been echoed by most people in recent times. Even when it comes to the game of football, FIFA has taken up the initiative to curb foul play in football. This is not a wild goose chase  because I think it is taking roots. People are adhering to it and practicing fair play. This fair play is erasing wickedness and cruelty in the game of politics. If the game foul play is still persistent in the system people try to emulate the practitioners or such practices.
Fair play is the best, preferred and beneficial style of playing the game of politics. it constitutes a peaceful way of playing, less arguments, and abuse of power. It is mainly the removal of negative ideologies and thought from the players mind. Once again, Let us make politics a clean and peaceful game!!

 

FOUL PLAY

Unfair play is not needed! It is useless action that has come to dwell with what should have been a peaceful game such as politics. Foul play is unnecessary, therefore we might not dwell on it much.
        Foul play is generally the use of or abuse  of power   by a player(politician) of the game of politics .Politics is generally the science of human interrelationships relating to the management of their social needs as earlier defined by Hon. Ndebugre. From this definition foul play is when these interrelationships are geared towards the management of social needs of the player.
        I strongly and boldly advise that those who have their minds setup to involve themselves in foul play and those who are involved  should have a change of mind and heart because the world is about to be convinced about the need to clean the dirt off politics, to make politics clean just after this project.