Following the recent statement made by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Bryan Acheampong, about the incoming 2024 election, some leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by Abraham Amaliba, decided to report him to the police. The petitioners want the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare’s men to arrest the Mpraeso Member of Parliament (MP), because his statement is seen as a threat to the peaceful conduct of the 2024 election.
Barely 24 hours after the NDC members had reported the case to the police, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also reported former President John Dramani Mahama to the same police, over an alleged statement he made three years ago, about the already conducted 2020 national elections.
According to the NPP, crime has no expiry date and that the former president must be arrested for questioning over the comments he made, which we do not want to repeat here. The police are yet to officially respond to the two requests they have received from the two leading political parties in the country.
But, as we wait for the police response, The Chronicle is surprised that leading members of the two combatants (NPP and NDC) have been moving from one radio station to the other trying to justify comments made by both John Mahama and Bryan Acheampong. Looking at the tribal and election-related conflicts that happen in Ghana, and other parts of the African continent, one would have expected that our politicians will be careful with their public utterances.
Unfortunately, this is not what we are seeing – our politicians rather see it as normal when they threaten fire and brimstone before any major elections in Ghana. To them, this is what will put the fear of God in their opponents to stop them from ‘stealing the elections’.
They also fail to appreciate the fact that some of these inflammatory statements can be swallowed hook line and sinker by their supporters, who may act upon them in a way and manner that can undermine the security of our dear nation. During the election-related violence that occurred in Ivory Coast over ten years ago, many innocent people were killed for committing no crime.
As we put this editorial together, Sudan, an African country, is on fire with many of the civilian population being killed. We can also recall the Liberia and Sierra Leon civil wars, where limps of people were chopped off. Through the prayers of religious leaders of this country, these kind of wars have never occurred in Ghana. This does not, however, mean that it can never happen – we will be laughing at the wrong side of our mouths if our politicians continue to make reckless public statements in their quest for governance.
The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to our religious and traditional leaders to call out these politicians anytime they make such public statements that have the potential to undermine our national security. Some of them have got the financial wherewithal to fly their families out of the country should there be any disturbances, but what about the rest of the population?
A word to the wise is enough!
