Ghana Needs Peace To Reign

*By **Adjetey Emmanuel***

Ghana has for some time now been characterized by the infamous deeds of the two majors political parties in the country: the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which is the ruling party.

This is obvious and anything concerning the development of the nation has been politicised, with one political group accusing each other. One can attest to this by turning on his/her radio or television. If hate speeches create wealth, some of our politicians’ doorstep would have been carpeted with diamonds.

It is worth mentioning that in the sub region, Ghana is recognised as one of the most peaceful and serene countries. The investor-confidence reposed in the country and the huge quantum of loans Ghana has been securing are clear indications of our good name.

However, if care is not taken, the peace we enjoy today after attaining our democratic status will become an illusion. This is true because the opposition NPP almost always sees nothing good about the NDC’s administration. On the other side of the coin, the vice versa is as true as the black and white elements of the Good Book. I wonder where they learned this blame game.

The repulsive tribal and ethnocentric verbal punches that these parties keep throwing heavily like Azumah’s blow at each other can plunge the country into chaos and anarchy.

Also, these parties’ so-called “macho men” who throw their weights about in threatening and brutalizing innocent Ghanaians including women, are reminded that they not invincible and would face similar fate one day. Ghanaians shouldn’t forget about some African countries like Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Liberia, to mention but a few, who have tasted various kinds of “dishes” of war.

Liberia’s ex-President Charles Taylor who has been sentenced to 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court. Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Sudan’s president, is the first national leader prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The people of Ghana, especially the youth, must have in their memory to allow peace to prevail.

The security agencies in the country, especially the police, must be totally professional and unbiased in doing their part of ensuring that peace reign in Ghana. To be precise, the police must be neutral in discharging their duties to ensure justice in the run-up to the December 2012 elections. They must subject all Ghanaians to the same standard of justice and national protection.

The president of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama , and other political leaders assuring Ghanaians to free and fair elections is a step in the right direction.

I entreat all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to desist from any action that would retard the progress of our dear nation.

Also, Ghanaians must know that if as result of the actions or inactions of some group of people the democratic process gets derailed, we, being the grass on which the elephants trod, will be more miserable than ever.

One Mairead Corrigan Macquire, a Northern Irish Peace Activist, said: “If you want to reap the harvest of peace and justice, we will have to sow the seeds of non-violence now and in the future.”

I strongly believe that the Umbrella and Elephant will uphold the good name of this country rather than throw it to the dogs.

The Writer is a Student-Journalist at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Writer’s email:adjeteyemmanuel@gmail.com