Let Us Stop These

It is interesting to notice that political awareness and public involvement in politics have increased tremendously in Ghana since the Fourth Republic and, most especially, since the last general elections. Many factors may be responsible for these positive developments. Some contemporary interesting, (or controversial), political figures in Ghana have contributed to these positive developments. The internet has also contributed significantly towards the creation of awareness and the easy facilitation of public participation. These positive developments are assisting to improve democracy in the country. While these good things are taking place, some other negative developments are also happening concurrently that have the potential to negate all the gains. It is these negative developments that this write-up is about and which I am appealing to fellow Ghanaians, with all humility, to put a stop to. These negative developments include:-

NDC – NPP SUPPORTERS’ ATTACKS AND COUNTER-ATTACKS: Attacks involving the two main political parties, NDC and NPP, have been happening consistently in some parts of the country, especially in the three northern regions. Other isolated incidences do take place in other parts of the country. While it cannot be said in any way that the leaderships of the two political parties are directly behind these developments, it can be argued that it is their responsibility to bring their supporters under discipline and control. Community and opinion leaders in the communities concerned must also use their leadership influences to bring harmony among those involved in these hostilities.

EWE – ASHANTI ‘VERBAL’ ETHNIC ATTACKS AND COUNTER-ATTACKS: These kinds of attacks prevail mostly on Ghanaian websites through articles and comments made by Ghanaians. The frequency of these attacks and counter-attacks, however, makes the problem more than trivial and, therefore, enjoins all Ghanaians, irrespective of our ethnic affiliations, to work together to end this ugly development. Ewes and Ashantis have lived and worked together in Ghana for ages. Ashantis have Ewe friends and partners, while Ewes too have Ashanti friends and partners. How the current ‘seeming antagonism’ started is not as important as how to end it. No stone should, therefore, be left unturned in finding ways to unite Ewes and Ashantis in the interest of ethnic cohesion and national unity. Those who write articles for, as well as those who make comments on, websites must play their part in bringing ethnic harmony between Ewes and Ashantis in particular and among all ethnic groups in Ghana in general.

ATTACKS ON JJ RAWLINGS AND JA KUFUOR:

Irrespective of which party we belong to or back, all Ghanaians agree on one thing which is that these two people have both served the nation as constitutional Heads of State. While they were serving, they may have done things that some of us may not have liked as individuals. This is always the case with political leadership, if not every leadership. However, the two men have completed their work and are now our ‘ex-Presidents’ and, therefore, our ‘grandfathers’ who deserve our respect. It is hard to accept this fact if you happen to have any political grudges against either of them. And definitely there will be people who have such grudges. These are and must be personal. And because they are personal, we must always endeavour not to allow them to interfere with our national obligations. Another reason why we have to be careful when making comments about the two ex-Presidents is that, though they are individuals like you and I, the two men symbolise ‘ideas and values’ by virtue of their previous involvements in the parties they led while they were in office. In such circumstance, attacks on them tend to ‘look like’ attacks on the ‘ideas and values’ that they symbolise. This calls for special caution when dealing with such figures. Whatever our personal circumstances are, we must demonstrate political maturity by according unto our ex-Presidents the respect due them by virtue of the ‘presidential seat’ they previously occupied.

INSULTING PEOPLE WITH VIEWS THAT DIFFER FROM OURS: This problem is visible mostly on the web when people post articles or make comments on articles or on issues in news reports. Instead of critics saying “your statement is wrong or incorrect”, they rather will say, for example, “you are stupid”; “what you are saying is stupid”; ”you are an idiot”; etc. It is strange how people can make such remarks about others. Even where we are hundred percent sure that statements or views expressed are wrong, why do we have to insult the person who makes the wrong statements or who expresses those wrong views? Is it because we think we are more intelligent? Or, it is because we lack manners. Whatever the reason for the insulting language we use on Ghanaweb and other Ghanaian websites, we do bring shame to the whole nation, because the world population access these sites and do read these insults. They judge the whole nation by the behaviour of the few Ghanaians who feel they have to show who they are by what ‘foul’ language they can use.

HANDLING DIVISIVE ISSUES CARELESSLY: Certain topics, issues and names tend to have divisive attributes by virtue of their controversial nature or their relevance to Ghana’s political history. Issues and topics of that nature include concepts like socialism, capitalism, federalism, etc. These are concepts that different Ghanaians see and accept differently. Also in Ghana names like Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. J.B. Danquah and Dr. K.A. Busia tend to flare up either positive or negative sentiments when used in articles and other writings. To these iconic past names, may be added contemporary political icons like J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor. These past and present political leaders are always seen differently by different Ghanaians. In all countries, one can find people who hold opposite views about certain concepts and certain national personalities, and yet discussions about those concepts and personalities do take place without destructive consequences. In Ghana, however, discussions about some concepts and some iconic political figures tend to arouse antagonistic (rather than friendly) debates and arguments. This situation makes it absolutely necessary for all Ghanaians who seek the unity and progress of the nation to abstain from making statements and comments about these ‘controversial’ concepts and Ghanaian leaders that do, or can, flare up antagonistic sentiments and drift Ghanaians apart, rather than bring us together.

Nothing in the last paragraph seeks to say that we should not mention, discuss or debate the ‘controversial’ concepts or talk about or appraise our iconic Ghanaian leaders like the five ‘Sons of Ghana’....Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah, K.A. Busia, J.J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor.... mentioned in the immediate paragraph above. Far from that, the aim of that paragraph is to get Ghanaians, especially the intelligentsia, to abstain from making statements and comments about these concepts and national figures that tend to polarise, rather than unite, the nation. Ghana is blessed with great intellectuals who are making various inroads in global affairs and developments. We believe that such great men and women will positively put their immense wealth of knowledge at the disposal of the nation and help move Ghana forward.

By Otchere Darko

(An independent-thinking Ghanaian, unaffiliated to any political party)

Author of Sound-Silly-Talk (A political viewpoint and mind game) www.sound-silly-talk.com