Opinions

News

Sports

Business

Entertainment

GhanaWeb TV

Africa

Country

A test case for the the constitution .....

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 Source: Akwah, Nana

.....Our Legal Process, The People (NPP) and The Supreme Court

Ghana stands at the threshold of making history and all who believes in the Rule of Law must support and applaud the wisdom to engage the Legal Process been pursued by Nana Addo and NPP in their resolve to task and test the Constitution and our Judiciary.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has demonstrated that he is a Statesman of the highest order. Hate him or love him. He is above his contemporaries in terms of understanding Democracy and the Rule of Law. His pioneering efforts to achieve for this Nation true Freedom and Justice are the anti-climax of the burdened 2012 Elections.

Never in the history of the nation has a group demonstrated such will-power to dare where most people fear to tread.

For the study of those who shivers and recoil because of 'Incumbency', the Leadership of NPP is demonstrating that Ghana is country worth emulating when democratic experience is discussed. The history of the United States elections had been fraught with many difficulties through its evolution.

Ghana's own is no exception. But it should be our resolve to demonstrate to the World Community that, though a small country in size, nonetheless greater than many in many aspects.

No matter what, Ghanaians has proven to the world that twenty years of democratic governance we have what it takes to lead the world in terms of maturity and tolerance, except for criminal confrontations from thugs and rouges, nothing untoward have taken place.

International Media had been in anticipation to run down on our credibility. Skirmishes ignorable are heightened in their reportage as if hell is about or has broken loose.

The not acceptance of the results and pursuit of due process is a mark of victory for our democracy and not a victory for the victors of the elections which has been cited for 'Vote Massaging' to favor the incumbent.

As Ghanaians we've a collective responsibility to guard our motto 'Freedom and Justice'. Also to have the strength and conviction to stand up against 'Oppressor's Rule' and 'Bold To Defend Forever; The cause of Freedom and of Right. It is our inalienable right to seek for 'truth when in doubt.

We must as a people develop a mentality to cherish fearless honesty. Demand probity, transparency and accountability from state Institutions charged with responsibilities to the People and above all those in governance.

We should raise our 'banner high' all citizens of Ghana wherever you maybe. Yes Nigeria had this to say about Ghana after the 1979 Military Junta 'A small country with a Lion Heart'. Why?

Eight (8) Military Generals were executed, something unheard of in the history of the world. Yes, we tread with gusto where others had slipped and are afraid to go.

I have always believed in our ability to overcome obstacles that even where the so-call developed countries falters.

United States Wall Street Movement which was a nuisance was too rashly dealt with. Russia with its heavy handedness on the Opposition! The British Police and Youth confrontation! The French and others make Ghana a unique country and a 'Model' of hope among the Community of Nations.

It was the great Civil Activist who said, 'History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people', Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is our collective duty, in our quest for true 'Freedom' to learn, we must make available and maintain the power to forgive and still pursue 'Justice'. Understanding that, He who is empty of the power to forgive is empty of the power to love. Remembering that, there is always some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we become aware of this, we are less likely to hate our enemies.

Our country's motto says 'Freedom and Justice' however; we must recognize that this is never more than one heartbeat away from disappearance if we fail to safeguard it. That's why we are reminded by 'national anthem that it must be 'Boldly Defended'. It was not passed on to us and we did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be struggled for, fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

We have a country to protect from arbitrariness. Have the courage to question those we elect to represent us because they are servants and not our masters. The citizenry hires them to take custody of our collective resources and apply it to the good of all. The elected representatives must understand that they are our Servants and not our Masters or Lords, for they stand in our collective place and not vice versa.

In concluding we must pat ourselves for allowing maturity and love of country to prevail over greed, by not allowing those desperate and inclined to mischief, having connived with some unpatriotic characters to subvert the will of the people to say we said so.

Those whose actions and inactions nearly brought untold agony and distress must be dealt with. The Returning Officers and their collaborators found to be culpable must be made to face the Law. They must not be spared the rod. Their greed could have thrown the country into chaos and distress had reasonableness not prevailed.

Our fortitude and perseverance has brought us a civilization which transcend our borders. A country of diverse cultures, religions, of varying languages and dialects blend for perfect understanding, ready to understand that we live together and sink together. We must not allow any country to acquiesce or dictate how we govern ourselves because our values aren't the same.

One thing I have learnt in life. Never to be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim and accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.

Understanding that: A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

God Bless Our Homeland Ghana Love Ghana And Cherish Ghana

Columnist: Akwah, Nana