GHANAIAN POLITICIANS: VIOLENCE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE POLITICS OF TODAY'S GHANA!

News reports that a meeting being held by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Accra's Odododiodio constituency, last night, was interrupted by some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, which apparently resulted in a melee: in which a number of people ended up being injured, if true, is a most disturbing development.

It is most unfortunate that some political parties in Ghana, seem to have failed to understand clearly, the absolute necessity of ensuring that Ghana's international reputation for being an oasis of peace, stability and good governance in Africa, isn't destroyed under any circumstances.

That reputation is priceless, and has been largely responsible for the confidence the international community has had in our nation - which has resulted in a steady increase in the flow of foreign direct investment into Ghana over the years. Above all, the projects they invest in, create jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.


Confidence may be intangible - but it is nonetheless a vital factor, in the mix of factors that investors, both indigenous and foreign, consider, when investing in any territory, Ghana included.

No politician or political party in Ghana must be allowed to declare a no-go area, in which their political opponents cannot organise political activities. That is intolerable in a democracy.

Speaking personally, for example, much as one loathes the New Patriotic Party (NPP), dominated as it is by Kufuor & Co., as a democrat, one will always defend their right to operate freely, in any part of the landmass of the Republic of Ghana. Ditto all the other political parties in Ghana.

It is for that reason that I join those who have condemned the statement said to have been made by Nii Lante Vanderpuije - an aide to the president of Ghana, no less, who really ought to know better - to the effect that he will not allow the NPP to meet in Zongo Junction. That is totally unacceptable.

In condemning Nii Lante Vanderpuije, it is also important to make the point, that it was for the selfsame reason, that during the December 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections, some of us condemned the attempt by certain traditional rulers in parts of the Ashanti Region, to prevent members of Zongo communities in their areas, from casting their votes, in the strongest possible terms.

That outrage too, must not be allowed to occur again, in the December 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections. Ditto the beating up and chasing away of NDC polling station agents and the party's local-level executives in many areas of the Ashanti and Eastern Regions, and, conversely, those of the NPP, in parts of the Volta Region, in the same election year.

It is time Ghana's politicians were made to understand that the nation and people they seek to rule, do not want violence, in any part of Ghana, whatsoever. For their own good, they had better pay heed to that societal reality - as they will pay a high price were they to instigate violence in their quest to win power in the December 2012 polls. Simply put, violence is unacceptable in the politics of today's Ghana. A word to the wise...

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