NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE IN OUR NATION'S POLITICS - FOR WE ARE A CIVILISED PEOPLE

One of the most precious assets Ghana has, is its international reputation as a peaceful, stable and democratic African nation. It is something our nation's political class must endeavour to safeguard, at all material times, and at all costs.

It is therefore regrettable that there have been reports of acts of violence, yet again, in the Greater Accra Region's  Ododododio constituency.

Both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), need to exercise maximum restraint - and get their members on the ground in the Ododododio constituency, to act a tad more responsibly.

In the light of the violence being experienced around the country at voter-registration centres, perhaps the question we must pose is: did our politicians not learn any lessons at all, from the Ivory Coast's tragic descent into chaos and violence - as a result of the power-drunkenness and lust for power, of some of the most powerful members of its political class?

In the end, did the Ivory Coast's ruling elites' selfish disregard for the well-being of their nation and its long-suffering people, not turn the lives of ordinary Ivorians who survived the brutal and deadly battles between pro-Gbagbo and pro-Quattara forces, completely upside down?

Surely, all the members of our nation's political class, are also aware that Ghana's well-earned international reputation as a haven of peace and stability in Africa, is one of the considerations that foreign and local investors take into account, when deciding to invest in our national economy?

Furthermore, are they also not aware that the vast majority of ordinary Ghanaians want their country to remain peaceful - as they do not want to end up as refugees in neighbouring countries, or as internally displaced persons, away from the security of familiar surroundings, and suffering elsewhere, in their homeland Ghana?

And is any violence by the members of political parties and their supporters, which will jeopardise that all-important and positive international reputation, in any way, in a nation with such high youth unemployment, not an unpardonable crime against ordinary Ghanaians, I ask?

And could such violence not be construed as adopting a negative political strategy, tantamount to deliberately driving away potential investment - that could create jobs for some of the many unemployed Ghanaians who are desperate to find work - because it suits the selfish ends some politicians seek: power at all costs, in the December 2012 general election?

Perchance are the cynics amongst us right indeed, when they say that the brinkmanship in places such as the Ododododio constituency, is really about angling for pole position - to be in the gang that will be brutally and repeatedly gang-raping Mother Ghana for the next four years, after the December polls?

Has the time not come for all Ghana's politicians to eschew the use of violence as a political weapon, to enable them win power in this country - if the ends they seek in politics are truly honourable and altruistic?

Violence is a dead-end for any developing nation that has aspirations - and those offering themselves for leadership positions in our homeland Ghana, who don't understand that basic fact of 21st century Ghanaian politics, don't deserve the support of discerning voters who are independent-minded, and love Mother Ghana passionately.

Incidentally, is it not instructive, dear reader, that our country's politicians, who are usually amongst the best-educated individuals in Ghanaian society, and many of whom say that a desire to serve their country and its people is their motivation for going into politics, have, in 21st century Ghana, still not seen it fit to disassociate themselves and their parties from the known violent-types, whom it would appear they still feel a need to include in their campaign entourages: as they criss-cross our nation campaigning for votes that will get them elected to power to govern our country?

The question is, why should all decent and fair-minded Ghanaians not condemn the trading of accusations and counter-accusations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of violent attacks on each other's party members and supporters at registration centres, particularly in parts of the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions (and elsewhere in Ghana)?

The leadership of both parties must bow their heads in shame for letting Mother Ghana down so terribly. And to think that this is only just a registration exercise, too - important though that is.

What will they do to our nation, on polling day then - when it suddenly becomes obvious to them that they are on the losing side, one wonders?

It really ought to be made plain to all Ghanaians that those acts of violence at registration centres, do not bode well for our country.

That is why the Ghana Police Service must ensure that all those actually responsible for the violence occurring at registration centres, are apprehended, charged and prosecuted in the law courts.

Finally, dear reader, it really is important that all the members of Ghana's political class, understand clearly, that in 21st century Ghana, it is imperative that in the run-up to all general elections, political parties and their supporters always act responsibly, at what are indeed critical moments, in our democratic journey as a people.

There must be no place for violence in our nation's politics - for we are a civilised people. A word to the wise...

Tel (Powered by Tigo - the one mobile phone network in Ghana, which actually works!): + 233 (0) 27 745 3109.