We were all witnesses to the recent elections in America, where Donald trump defiled all the odds to emerge as the nation’s next president.
This is what transparency of a system can throw up, even though there have been some protests against the man’s meteoric electoral success.
In the run-up to the American elections, we never heard of the emergence of any peace industry. The reason is that the system there is not only rife with all the requisite checks and balances, but also ensures those who man them carry out their work in a manner that ensures fairness and justice for all, irrespective of their political affiliations.
In our case here in Ghana, general elections have now become inextricably linked to massive eruptions of peace enterprises. Surprisingly, players in this industry consciously go to bed after each election, totally hibernate for solid years, only to wake up from their slumber and take up the holier-than-thou mantle of peace advocacy when elections are around.
And even here, they don’t carry out their work in a manner that shows they are sincere about the peace they claim to be advocating.
Indeed, the bedrock of every peaceful contest where contestants remain calm with whichever way the tide turns is nothing but fairness.
As the various presidential aspirants intensify their campaign in readiness for the December 7 election, the issue of fairness by the Electoral Commission has been the clarion call of many Ghanaians, especially the majority who are determined to send President John Mahama and his governing National Democratic Congress out of the corridors of power.
But strangely, this is something those in the peace industry, not even the National Peace Council, appear to be interested in, even though a level playing field is the most important factor that will engender peaceful elections. Yet, we hear them going about preaching the need for peace, as if peace can be achieved by merely preaching it. What kind of hypocrisy is this?
Again, assigns of the governing NDC appear to have been strengthened by the inaction of the Police to continue unleashing unprovoked attacks on the members of the main opposition New Patriotic Party.
They keep making inflammatory statements, which can potentially result in outbreak of confusion, but the security agencies look on unconcerned. They, however, find it prudent to take action if same is done by members of the NPP. This is not how we engender peace, yet players in the peace industry don’t seem to appreciate this reality.
We have had instances where agents of the ruling government have attacked NPP supporters in Suhum, allegedly through the indirect machinations of the Chief of Staff and the NDC parliamentary candidate for the area, who doubles as the Municipal Chief Executive.
A brother of Collins Dauda, a cabinet minister, only last week was on air boisterously shouting over the roof tops that “I have killed so many people.” Yet, the Police fear to take action against this man who is known by all as the major ‘executioner’ of all the violent activities of the NDC in the Asutifi district of the Brong-Ahafo Region. He is untouchable simply because he carries out his attacks for and on behalf of his brother and the NDC.
It is the failure of the Police to take action against such NDC hooligans that encouraged members of the party to launch yesterday’s unprovoked attacks on the residence of Nana Akufo-Addo, NPP Presidential Candidate.
In all these, many of those preaching peace, including members of the National Peace Council, have sadly not found it worthwhile to raise a voice of condemnation.
The president, whose responsibility it is to ensure there is peace and tranquility in the system as we go into this year’s epic elections, has equally been loudly silent over these worrying developments.
Yet, people think those who are under attack should necessarily allow peace to prevail just because some people have constituted themselves into an industry of peace ambassadors and are preaching the need for peace, without raising a voice where it matters most. This is the kind of hypocrisy that portends trouble for the nation.
Source: The New Statesman
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These peace 'NOKOFIO' Council are just a bunch of bootlickers who always do the bidding of the sitting government this time JOn WICKED MAHAMA ; they use their position to extract favours including cars; and houses from the government ; most of them both men and women are not of principle ;they prefer to keep quiet whilst the lutting of state monies go on ; the sad fact is the there are some quiet respected few in Ghana not rich people who should be selected but will never be selected because most of these honest people detest stilling of state assets and will never condone stilling and corruption and will complain about any unfarness in society ;Jon Mahama hates people of honesty and intergrity ; the current so called peace council led by this so called pastor of which I pfrefer not mention his corrupt name is toothless ; do not believe in the principles of equity but uses the bible as a face saving tool to solicit respect from society ; this corrupt chairman pastor is not prepared to come and condenm the woyome stilling of state cash and in particular those involved in such robbery ; how ; can this charlatan of a pastor compare himself top REc Marty when it comes to intergrty besides how did he manage to buy the 4 wheel drive backked in his backed yard ; THESE ARE ALL THIFFS GALORE USING THE BIBLE TO CHEAT PEOPLE !!!!!
because they do not sing the song of NPP they are now enemies and need to be criticised,.
We are all free to express our opinions on national issues, especially when they affect us. However, we must be careful not to take on state institutions based on perceived bias or inaction. The NPP and its supporters, media and individuals, should not behave as if they are at war with state institutions. The same institutions will work with the party should they win power. State institutions are also made of individuals of different political persuasions and should not be seen as supporting one party against the other. Institutions work for the state, not for parties.