Many days have elapsed since democracy suffered a violent setback in the Ablekuma North constituency of the Greater Accra Region.It was one of the worst challenges to be visited on democracy in this country inu recent times. The subject of protecting democracy is a responsibility which should not be taken lightly considering the ruling party’s proclivity to violent behavior during elections.
All Ghanaians who support our decision to tread the democracy path must do all they can to ensure the survivability of this form of government especially its various processes. Failure to lend such support will constitute an irresponsibility whose repercussions can only be conjectured.
Our President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces is yet to speak about the subject and many doubt he will anyway. Their doubt is latched upon the various remarks by his leading appointees which suggest that what played out was a state sponsored assault on identifiable leading personalities of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
One of his appointees even had the guts to tell the former Vice President that he should ‘shut up’ after he expressed concern about the assault. On Monday social media showed images of thugs who perpetuated the acts of violence at one of the polling stations exiting Jubilee House. The impression was that they had gone there to receive their golden handshakes for a job well executed. If this is true we have as a country retrogressed in our democratic journey.
Is the impression being created that future elections will be featured by the engagement of thugs?Is that the kind of Ghana we prefer? This is the time for CSOs, the clergy and others to defend democracy and condemn what happened at Ablekuma North.One of the appointees who without doubt had a hand in recruiting the thugs saluted as it were the man who charged at Hawa Koomson with a head butt.
The appointee who heads the YEA and notorious for his crude and violent political tactics described at the brut as a ‘flying python’.At this stage we can conclude that vigilantism has returned its proscription notwithstanding.Information reaching us indicates that the thugs were ferried to the location by state vehicles and this is seriously worrying.
We do not think that Ghanaians want a one-party state. If that is what the NDC is feverishly driving at let them think twice because it would not happen.
The thugs might have done their assignment and received their golden handshake but let those who hired them remember that Ghana was not sold to them. They assumed the leadership of the country through an electoral process whose sanctity must be protected.No political party has monopoly over violence.
The Ablekuma North violence is a wakeup call to those who suffered the NDC brutalities to take another look at their internal security because the state’s police department cannot be trusted to protect them. What a shame!
