The threat of Delta rebels: A test of character in leadership

300 years before the Christian era, Aristotle said: “To allow human passions to rule is not law but a perversion in the holders of office”.

What in God’s name is happening under Nana Addo’s watch? If he doesn’t show any strong leadership in this matter, you can be sure he’s lost a lot of votes including mine. This is so preposterous and nauseating, to say the least! This was how my lawyer friend at the immigration service greeted me with the shameful act of lawlessness by the Delta forces that rebelled.

I slumped into my chair without any coherent defense to the contrary. Needless to say but my lawyer friend is a swing voter who decided to vote against President Mahama the very day he freed the Montie trio.

My worst nightmare had caught up with me. Stupidity, ignorance and unrefined bravado clothed with muscles have trampled on civility in broad daylight.

These are the very elements that raped our virgin forest and muddied our rich river bodies in the name of Galamsey. I am trying very hard to be charitable and measured in my choice of words lest I come off as a Delta writer myself. I can understand albeit momentarily if a Primary school or even a JHS dropout who is unemployed decides to take the law into their hands out of frustration and ignorance but when an educated person of status jumps to the defense of such irresponsibility then I’m sorry,... Nothing that erodes the rule of law can be moral, it does not matter what name you give it!

I do not care if the Delta forces number a thousand, ten thousand or a hundred thousand. The collective GOODWILL of the Ghanaian people cannot be eroded and sacrificed on the altar of naked barbarism in the name of Delta forces. Of what relevance is an expensive “security dog” if it cannot be tamed and ends up biting the owner’s children and the owner himself especially in public on a sunny day? I’d rather be without one!

If Harry S. Truman who could not boast of a college degree could relief an overly decorated war General, 5-star General Douglas MacArthur of his command when the later went rogue in the 1950’s, nothing should stop or intimidate President Akufo-Addo (a highly accomplished lawyer) from doing same or worse to chairman Wontumi or any other NPP financier who is watering this nonsense. Dr. J. B. Danquah (whiles spending time in the Nsawam prisons) in his letter dated 13th October 1961 addressed to Osagyefo) Kwame Nkrumah said, “Your Excellency has known me for the best part of 14 years.

You are fully aware that it is not in my nature or in my policy to cause the overthrow of any Government of Ghana by other than the best approved constitutional means…The turbulent national problems are invariably approached by me with philosophic calm. I am aware that such an approach does not always lead to ‘popular’ or ‘quick’ results, but what it creates becomes a permanent part of history”

I have an unwavering confidence in the leadership credentials of President Akufo-Addo. I have no doubt about his ability to weather the raging storms of Galamsey and vigilante groupings. The greatest Nigerian movie that made a lasting impression on me had a principled Judge sentence his only British-trained son to death by firing squad when the later engaged in armed robbery. He wept even as he gave his verdict. It strikes me as a strange coincidence, that the Delta Forces are forcing the hands of the President at no other time than the Passion Week. A time when The Lord Almighty refused to cover up the sins of humanity and so served his only begotten son with the ultimate penalty; death on the cross.

Mr. President, how this Delta gate is handled will inform the aftermath of the announcement of the 212 MCE’s DCE’s. You have a golden opportunity to leave footprints in the sands of time. Please cease the opportunity and make a bold statement that will resonate pleasantly even on the graceful graves of uncle J.B and his mentor Ekra Agyekum (Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford)

God bless our President

God bless our homeland Ghana