Is the voice of the people the voice of God?

By Fiifi AFENYI-DONKOR (Rev)

The phrase “The voice of the people is the voice of God” is a famous Latin maxim. Vox people, Vox God. This phrase suggests that the opinions and beliefs of the majority are a reflection of the divine will or voice of God. However, this phrase is not necessarily to be taken literally. There are biblical examples that also suggest that God can be on the side of minorities, particularly preferential treatment for the marginalized in our communities, and that the majority may not always be right.

Historical perspective

In ancient Rome, this phrase was used to express the idea that the collective opinion of the people was considered sacred and should be respected. In the Christian tradition, the phrase has been interpreted in several ways:

1. Some see it as an expression of God’s sovereignty and believe that God works through the collective wisdom and consensus of people.
2. Others see it as a warning against blindly following public opinion, recognizing that the voice of the people can sometimes be misguided or contrary to God’s will.
3. Some theologians argue that the voice of the people is the voice of God only when it is consistent with Scripture and the revealed will of God.

Modern use

In modern times, the phrase is also used in various contexts outside of religion, including politics and democracy, emphasizing the importance of listening to the collective voice of the people in decision-making processes. However, it is important to recognize that the voice of the people is not always infallible and should be balanced with wisdom, judgment, and a commitment to justice and righteousness.

Ghana’s current situation

Ghana is in an election year where the majority of citizens must confirm the electability of presidential and parliamentary candidates to be allowed to govern for the next four years. Ghana is known to be very religious, so some candidates might use the pulpits and religious jargon and phrases to promote divine legitimacy of rule. Furthermore, numerous prophecies would be spewed “from the left, from the right and from the centre” to support this legitimacy of rule. In the midst of all this, we must first remember the difference between “body politic” and party politics.

The political body as a catalyst for national consciousness

The term “body of government” refers to the collective of a nation, state or society as a unified whole. This metaphorical expression compares the state or society to a human body in which different parts work together to form a functioning whole. In this context, the different parts of the body of government could be: the head of state (e.g. president, monarch) as the “head”, the government or administration as the “brain”, the legislature as the “heart”, the judiciary as the “conscience”, the citizens or people as the “body” or “limbs”. The term “body of government” emphasizes the idea that the collective is more than the sum of its individual parts. The second verse of our national anthem is very supportive:

“Hail, Ghana,

To you we solemnly vow:

Steadfast to build together

A nation strong in unity;

With our spiritual gifts and our arm strength,

Whether day or night, in the midst of the storm,

In every need, whatever the call,

To serve you, Ghana, now and forever.”

In terms of the body politic, our national consciousness should enable us to conduct our “politics” based on development issues without partisan, racial or religious affiliation. It is not a crime to belong to or identify with any political party or person, but Ghana must be foremost in our considerations. The political ideology that will most benefit the body politic is democracy.

democracy

Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise that power directly or through elected representatives. It is characterized by the principles of political equality, participation, and accountability. The term democracy originates from ancient Greece and combines the Greek words “demos” (people) and “kratos” (power or rule), essentially meaning “rule of the people.”

Abraham Lincoln famously defined democracy as a government of the people, for the people, and of the people. Being a government of the people means that it is not imposed by anyone but is chosen by the people themselves through elections under the guidance of a self-selected constitution. This alludes to the constitutional and representative nature of democracy. Being for the people means that it ensures that goods and services and the protections provided by the state are distributed as fairly as possible for the benefit of all. The emphasis here is on social democracy. Finally, being of the people means that it protects the individual rights and freedoms of all sections of the population. This is where liberal democracy takes center stage. In short, the core of democracy is the voice of the people.

The preamble to the Republican Constitution of 1992 confirms the above with the words:

“We the people of Ghana, in exercise of our natural and inalienable right… and in solemn declaration and reaffirmation of our commitment to liberty, justice, probity and accountability, to the principle that all powers of government derive from the sovereign will of the people, to the principle of universal adult suffrage, to the rule of law, to the protection and preservation of fundamental human rights and to the freedom, unity and stability of our nation, do hereby adopt, bring into force and give to ourselves this Constitution.”

It follows that there can be no democracy without the voice of the people.

The inherent dangers of democracy

Winston Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” This means that while democracy is by far the most politically friendly of all the political ideologies of the state, it also has many inherent weaknesses. One of the disadvantages of democracy is what is commonly known as the “disease of democracy.” Democracy suffers from the incurable disease of frequently electing political leaders who make grand promises to their voters and fail, only trying to help the people when they have to seek re-election in the midst of a tough competition. In our parts of the world, this seems to be the case; some voters like Esau would trade their birthright (their vote) for a bit of food (a bit of cash or kind). Unfortunately, what happens in political party primaries, where it is now an open secret that party delegates demand money and other things from the potential election candidates, is not an isolated incident, but the beginning of the fire that leads to the outbreak of false promises during the main elections.

The way forward

Citizens must be critical and demand accountability for their promises before elections. In addition to this general demand, we must also commend the few brave political leaders who have chosen to be different from this mass and who, just like the proverbial Oliver Twist, humbly ask for more. According to the 2021 census, 71.3% of Ghanaians identify as Christian. This assumes that seven out of ten members of the political class are Christians. Imagine the positive impact on our political sphere if this enormous proportion of the political class took the lead in “curing” the disease of democracy.

Then there must be a change in attitudes among both voters and candidates. For those of us not in political leadership, it is very easy to criticize the political class. Sometimes what happens in our own “little corners” gives us much to be expected if we were equally given the OK to govern. In the words of John Dalberg-Acton, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” There must be a complete transformation of heart and mind. Even a “third force” cannot help us if we do not change our attitudes. A call for corporate transformation echoed in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is apt: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land” (NIV). This verse is a promise from God to His people, calling them to humility, prayer, and repentance, with the assurance of forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It is a call to spiritual renewal and a reminder of God’s desire to bless and prosper His people if they seek Him with a humble heart.

Diploma

The notion that the voice of the people is the voice of God is not inherently assured unless we place national consciousness above party affiliation in our political endeavours while fostering changed minds and hearts for effective nation-building. This approach is crucial as democracy is considered the cornerstone of modern governance and promotes stability, prosperity and human development.

Rev. Fiifi Afenyi-Donkor is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church Ghana.