Must We Allow Political Parties To Set Up Private Paramilitary Units Because Powerful Politicians Fear For Their Lives?

Should we allow political parties to set up private paramilitary units because a few powerful  politicians fear for their lives?

Well, whiles it might be in the interest of political parties and individual politicians to set up paramilitary organisations,  it is most definitely not in the national interest, for that to happen. It will be a grave error of judgment, collectively, if Ghanaians allowed that to happen.

The trouble about political parties training young people ostensibly for security duties during election campaigns - that under normal circumstances ought to be provided by the state - is that when their paymasters fail to win power, they can be used by rogue elements in such parties to sabotage critical infrastructure, and carry out terrorist attacks across the country.

And they could also freelance in groups as armed robbers whenever they feel the need to do so, could they not?

To forestall such a  development in Ghana, it might be prudent for the leadership of the security agencies and the relevant select committees of Parliament, to collaborate with all the political parties, to address their security concerns, and find solutions to those challenges - and obviate the need for what are in effect private paramilitary units for political parties.

In most democratic nations, it is the state that provides protection for politicians, during election campaigns. There is no reason why we should not do so in Ghana too.

No sincere and independent-minded  Ghanaian patriot, who listens to verbally-aggressive politicians, such as the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) Robert Owusus, and the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Bernard Antwi-Boasiakos, will fail to see the wisdom in not allowing political parties in Ghana to form what to all intents and purposes are private paramilitary units, under any circumstances.

Politicians and political parties will come and go, but our homeland Ghana will endure till the very end of time. At all costs, the stability of our country must be maintained, for the sake of ordinary people.

The personal ambitions of politicians should not be allowed to put that stability at risk. Ever.

In a polarised nation in which many politicians put party and tribe above loyalty to Mother Ghana, we are asking for trouble, if we allow political parties to form paramilitary units, at  a time when international terrorist groups are focusing on west Africa.

The safety of the Republic, and the well-being of ordinary people in Ghana, must not be allowed to be jeopardised by the formation of private paramilitary units by political parties. Period.

After all, politicians who fear for their lives have a choice: they are free to return to their private lives - and live quiet and tranquil lives as private citizens. We must not allow political parties to set up private paramilitary units just because a few powerful politicians fear for their lives.