Had the cassava knew that being generous to a goat with its leaves
will end up spilling doom for both of them on hot a Christmas Sunday, it would
had lobbied to be called Mr. Stingy. It is no doubt that our biggest neighbour’s
instability is our concern but it should be a concern that propels us as a
nation – Ghana to do something about it; not just something but that which
ensures mutual stability and peace especially because we are closer to them than
many of the West African countries. And it in this light that I will want to
weigh the option of military intervention the so-called “last option”.
I am not a war expert neither am I a military man but as a person who
experienced a bit of instability in Kenya in 2007 and in fact having lived in
Kenya, a wonderful country challenged by two neighbouring warring countries;
Uganda and Somalia, I deem it appropriate to share my thoughts.
Should military intervention be an option at all? This is where I
disagree with both opposition and the government; military intervention can not
be even the last option. It should be out of the equation for it can never be
option at any point. Why am I taking such a stance? Being a Ghanaian I prefer
using my country as the reference point. First, I hope we will all remember the
socio-economic challenges the war in Liberia inflicted on Ghana with the influx
of refugees. Mind you, Liberia is even far yet Ghana was their second home
according to Oppong Weah. And up to now, there some still around not knowing
where to go, neither do they know where they belong. Note that in 1989 the
population of Liberia was 2,555,883and Ivory Coast’s population is now
21,058,798 and in addition Ivory Coast is more closer than Liberia, therefore
the influx of refugees will be unimaginably bigger coupled with its associate
problems should Ivory Coast go haywire. Are we ready for it?
Besides the obvious fact that there will be resistance which
inevitably will lead to death of Ghanaians as well as Ivorians should military
intervention be employed, the sister country relations we enjoy now will
collapse. Instability in Ivory Coast will obviously cause paralysis in Ghana as
far as border security is concerned. This brings to mind one of the many
challenges Kenya faces; the proliferation of illegal arms, which is caused by
the fact that arms are cheaply bought and smuggled into Kenya from her warring
neighbours and in fact that has been one of the main cause of high crime in that
country. Back home, Ghana is already struggling with armed robbery upsurge, war
in our western neighbour will surely trigger a lot of smuggling, in which drugs
and arms will not be the least. This means that crime in Ghana will increase.
Let’s also remember that even the world’s greatest military forces,
U.S.A and U.K did not succeed in rounding up their military intervention in Iraq
within the forty days originally scheduled but in fact it’s almost a decade now.
Now my question is, can this economically toddling nation of ours be able
sustain our military men there for such long without any repercussion on the
country’s tax-payers money?
Ghana must do something but what? I strongly believe the country has
enough statesmen who should be encouraged by the government to lobby behind
doors through the international bodies like ECOWAS and AU to at least ensure
that the disputed election is nullified and the fresh election held under a
supervision of a mutually recognised electoral system. Remember fire in your
neighbour’s farm is reminder to create fire-belt in yours.
Joe Tony
bezanku@yahoo.com
