Can A Government Of National Unity Emerge After The December Presidential Election?

One cannot help but be saddened, when one looks at television news footage,  and sees the obvious suffering of one's fellow humans,  in conflict zones in African nations such as Somalia;  Eastern DR Congo; Darfur;  and the area along the border between Sudan and the Republic of Southern Sudan.


I am equally sure that there are  millions of ordinary Ghanaians,  who also empathise with the victims of African conflicts - and who doubtless are apprehensive about what lies in store for Ghana, on polling day 7th December 2012,  and its immediate aftermath.


If the December elections are violence-free and peaceful nationwide,
It will redound to the benefit of Ghana and all its citizens  - as it will confirm to the world that Ghana is indeed a truly peaceful and stable multi-party democracy:  and a beacon of hope in Africa, worth partnering.


The question is, will the extremists in the two biggest political parties in Ghana, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the biggest of the opposition parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), be reined in by their more level-headed colleagues?


The ordinary people of Ghana are hoping against hope,  that the men of violence will be held in check, at a time of great danger for the enterprise Ghana.


If those myrmidon-types  are successfully held in check, it  will save our homeland Ghana from the trauma that fellow Africans in the continent's conflict zones  experience,  when their lives are turned upside down, as a result of the belligerence and lust for power,  of ruthless and selfish politicians.


It will be a true mark of statesmanship, were  the losing candidate in the December presidential election  to broadcast a message to the nation,  asking   members of his party to accept the verdict of the people of Ghana - and call for
national unity at a critical juncture in Ghana's history:   so that  the people of Ghana  can  face the future  together as a united  people,  sharing a common destiny.


If the losing candidate in the December presidential election were to also then go on to pledge his -  and his party's -  support for the winning candidate and his administration, in the supreme interest of Mother Ghana, that will earn him the gratitude of the whole nation, as well as the respect and admiration of all Ghanaians.


One hopes that whoever ends up losing the presidential election will rise to the occasion on the day - and by his words and actions,   book a place in the Pantheon of great Ghanaians:  for  saving our nation from  possible catastrophe,  in  preventing post-election violence by  disappointed supporters of his party.


Perhaps,  in return,  the winner of the presidential election will reward such statesmanship, by announcing his intention to form a government of national unity - and by so doing, unite all Ghanaians behind the new administration formed by his party. A word to the wise...


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