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Let’s be calm after the polls in and outside Parliament

Feature Article Lets be calm  after the polls in and outside Parliament
JAN 15, 2021 LISTEN

Soon after the December 7 polls, the nation moved into an unchartered Democratic era. For the first time since the inception of the fourth republic in 1992, the two leading political parties the NPP and NDC have been denied an absolute majority in parliament.

Each side of the current Parliament has 137 MPs giving us a 'hung' legislature for the first time with a speaker emerging from the opposing party to the elected President.

Though the sitting President Nana Akufo Addo has retained his presidency to pursue a second four-year term, it seems he's going to run through his work with the current legislature that would have to agree to work in harmony and consensus. The first test to this begun with the strange experience leading to the election of a new speaker for the 8th parliament.

Instead of being orderly and peaceful, the Election of the new speaker Hon Alban Bagbin had to go through jostling, snatching, and kicking of ballot boxes and papers by some MPs from the NDC and NPP. Those involved are our lawmakers who we are told were fighting for their rights.

However, some members of the public feel that their behavior was wrong and not a good example for the coming generations. The MPs being our lawmakers have a way to deal with wrongdoers in Parliament. The question to ask is apart from Hon. Carlos Ahenkora who is being accused of snatching ballot papers other MPs were also seen struggling with him with others kicking the ballot box in the Parliament House.

Is Hon Ahenkorah the only culprit in this jostling game or the others who struggled with him would also be accused of wrongdoing? The authorities concerned must muster the courage to deal with this issue in the interest of the nation and the coming generations.

Since we have a hung Parliament we are not going to have proceedings in Parliament running through easily as before. However, both sides of the house must realise that they can only achieve their objectives if they work together in harmony and cooperation.

One of the parties NDC might not be in government but they may have the numbers to scrutinize every policy loan and legislation from the president. However, it is only advisable for them to consider helping to pass good laws and offer to advise to amend those with some weaknesses. Apart from the nation benefiting from those laws, loans, and infrastructural development their own constituents and the nation as a whole would benefit from them.

Currently calm seems to have been restored throughout the nation after the hullabaloos after the polls. The president seems ready to begin appointing Ministers and other government appointees while we wait for the outcome of the petition filed by president MAHAMA against alleged wrongs perpetrated in the December polls.

While the government begins to put things in place it's advisable for all to remain calm. What's required is for the president to consider various advice being given by people of all over the nation to the president. Parliament must also get ready to vet the appointees objectively as happened in the past. What is important is that those to be appointed must also be ready to hit the ground running.

Henceforth both parties must advise their followers to be law-abiding. Everyone must know that we would continue to enjoy our honor and respect as a credible and peaceful NATION if we remain calm after the polls. Henceforth both parties must advise their followers to be law-abiding. The period of campaigning is over What they need to do is move in to perform their duties as government appointees, businessmen and women, traders, and students. Everyone must learn to tone down on harsh criticisms laden with insults on our main and social media.

It has a way of inflaming tensions and conflicts. Physical and verbal Attacks on the Media men are not good.. However, both the media and members of the public must work within the ambit of the law and rules governing libel and sedition.

Ghanaians upholds the tenets of the Right to Information and accept the advice to be citizens and not spectators. However, we all including our legislators and journalists must be measured in our utterances in the media. As said earlier we must make presentations without attacking personalities with unsubstantiated evidence. With this, we'll move on together continue building our nation together peacefully.

Long live Ghana!!!

Let's remain peaceful and strong together!!!

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