Our democratic probity must be screened from any wanton defacement

Ghana's democratic nature is sterling, and as such, it has embraced and warranted diasporic endorsements. 

According to a transformation index set by a project by Bertelsmann Stiftung, which aims to apprehend the gradation from authoritarianism to democracy in various countries, Ghana stands at 32 in a list of 129. 

Indicators are measured on a scale from 1 to 10 and demonstrate the degree to which the country has made advancements in our transformation to inclusive institutions.

Political participation and the stability of our democratic institutions are 8.5. International cooperation comes in at 8.3, while political and social integration is 7.8. 

These mensurations provide evidence that democracy in Ghana has extended beyond promises on paper to insulate civil liberties and the wellbeing of its citizens. 

The implications of democracy sprint through our daily lives, specifically through snowballed attention by our leaders to the umbrella of human rights, civil liberties, and the provision of public services. Democracy in Ghana has granted nods for representation and participation.

Our democratic pliability has greenlighted the citizenry to engage in logical and lawful demonstration in case they deem something unethically inequitable or something of that kind. Ghana is a state party to the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 21 steers the right of composed assembly, providing that:

The right of tranquil assembly shall be recognized. No curtailments may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those thrusted in docility with the law and which are requisite in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public immunity, public order (ordre public), the shelter of public health or morals, or the shield of the rights and freedoms of others. 

Ghana is also a state party to the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which brooks individuals to petition the Human Rights Committee if they believe the state has overstepped their human rights as protected under the Covenant. At regional level, Ghana is a state party to the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. Article 11 provides as follows:

Every individual shall have the right to congregate liberally with others. The exercise of this right shall be subject only to inexorable dampers provided for by law, in particular those enacted in the interest of national security, the safety, health, ethics, and rights and freedoms of others. Ghana is also a state party to the 1998 Protocol on the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and has authorized the right of petition to the Court by individuals and non-governmental organisations.

"Democracy Hub" grovelled to Article 21(1)(d) of the 1992 Constitution and embarked on slapdash and kamikaze demonstrations against the government in relation to their phantasmic economic mismanagement and other national issues. In fact, when I read and saw their daredevil and temerarious attitudes in vandalizing stream of chattels hell for leather out of their demonstration, I stood in stupefaction, my mouth agape with incredulity _ the real stunner unfolded, when they trashed and totalled some NPP's billboards and posters. 

From that, the sneaking suspicion became undisguised; they were a subset of the NDC Party. At that moment, I yo-yyoed up and down with my brain and queried myself about the credentials and appropriateness of the Ghana Police Service, even though they barricaded them along the line from their protest demonstration - but that alone couldn't replenish the mutilated valuables.

Before a group, institution, organization, etc could mount a demonstration or assembly, the Police Service gives the defining imprimatur to that effect, in accordance with Section 1(1) of the 1994 Public Order Act (Act 491), whereby a rigorous benchmarks are laid down to police the exercise circumspectly. 

In the demonstration of "Democracy Hub,"  the Ghana Police Service was so supine, lackadaisical, and suspicious, such that why did they leave the marchers to enroll in those egregious predations before they succumbed to that situation eventually? The Ghana Police Service must be reproached for that vandalism induced by the apostles of the "Democracy Hub ".

As the mutineers were seen razing the various assets breezily in a video at some point, it does provide scientifically evidential substance and satisfy Section 11(2) of the Evidence Act, 1975, NRCD 323, which highlights the provision of impregnable evidence to be used in the matter of prosecution. It was a conspicuous intentional abrasion from them using the heterogenous videos as a barometer.

I herein charge the Ghana Police Service to commence prosecuting the delinquents, since it doesn't give insignia of literal democracy - their intentions were maleficent and as such, this tort should be treated with the full rigor of the law, for vandalism has no place in the realm of our democracy. 

Moreover, I urge the NPP leaders to provoke the prosecution of the culprits, even though the National Youth Wing led by Commander Salam and his sidekicks have vented out their crossness and weltschmerz to the Ghana Police Service and the initiator(s) of that protest demonstration. 

But the frosting on the cake will be the arraignment; hence, the perpetrators should be collared in order to asseverate that we are not living in anarchical country!

By: Prof. Dinkum

(The Buzzing Rapine of Erudition) E-mmail: dinkumchoice@gmail.com