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20.09.2012 Feature Article

Inspiring thugs for electoral violence…

Inspiring thugs for electoral violence
20.09.2012 LISTEN

By Anthony Kwaku Amoah
As Ghanaians pray for utter peace and tranquility in the polls, some people are also planning to raze it.

President John Evans Atta Mills has just been buried. He came to power on the ticket of the NDC in January 2009 having narrowly beaten Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP in the December 2008 polls.

Before that, the NDC had stayed in opposition for eight years since 2001. So the 2008 election was more of a 'do and die' affair for the party; with even then candidate Mills warning that should his party lose again, Ghana would turn Kenya.

Series of wicked propaganda and attacks were thrown at Nana Akufo-Addo, which this piece, for now, would not have the strength to recap.

Nana Addo is still the NPP flag bearer and the belief is that many lessons have been learnt to enable him wrest power from the ruling NDC this time around.

The seasoned lawyer has been meeting with his party delegates, sympathizers and citizens for full appreciation of their problems and expectations before he hopefully turns president.

His 'All die be die' avowal at Koforidua has been described and hyped by critics as warring and desperation for power.

Many attempts have been made to clarify the air but critics still insist there is a hidden agenda of violence should the results go against him and his party again.

But who says genuine electoral victory comes on a silver platter? Much work would have to be done in accordance with set rules and regulations.

They say Mr. Kennedy Adjapong's case is still with the ICC. He was alleged to have told Akans to kill Gas and Ewes in their vicinity during a program on his radio station, Oman FM, in Accra.

Some say he allegedly said this out of anger over how some alleged brutalities involving his party people, like Madam Ursula Owusu and Mr. Abu Jinapor at Odododiodoo were handled by government and the security agencies.

Day in, day out, peace songs and jingles are played to our hearing but as to whether we are prepared to dance to those tunes or not at this crucial period in the life of our nation still remains a major question.

With less than three months to elections, it is normal to see a party busily strategizing as the EC prepares to lift the ban on official campaigns. The NPP has just launched its manifesto while the NDC has also endorsed President Mahama as its new flag bearer.

The President has just completed his contentious 'Thank You' tour with the naming of his campaign team also for the impending polls.

Having served as vice-president for little over three and a half years, Mr. John Mahama was sworn into office on July 24, this year following President J.E.A Mills' death.

With him now bearing the flag of NDC, Mr. Mahama would have to be quickly packaged well for possible acceptance by the electorate. Relying on the power of incumbency and youthfulness may be deceptive. Ghanaians will love to hear much about his competence and efficiency.

We have a tape in the system now with the voice of the NDC National Organizer, Yaw Boateng Gyan. He is on record to have engineered some of his party youth to support the party clandestinely to win the elections.

Listen to how George Sydney Abugri reports Yaw Gyan: 'He is heard on the tape promising party supporters government-funded largesse and recruitment as national security agents, in exchange for their loyalty and clandestine services toward securing electoral victory.'

According to the tape, the NDC Organizer bluntly told the youth that there are some members of the NDC who are also soldiers in the Ghana Armed Forces but still work at the party headquarters, Eei!

He assured participants at the said meeting that any troubles fomented using the National Security ID Cards they will be given shall be blamed on Nana's 'All die be die' statement.

What an unfortunate exposé? The apology rendered by the President to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and its moderator is not enough.

Political tagging and resignation from a church in defense for these comments are disturbing. The security agencies must also be very alert and unbiased.

Stakeholders in peace building should be supported to deliver quality service. Politics is a matter of contest of ideas and philosophies relevant to development and not war. Ghana needs peace and unity to continue to prosecute its developmental agenda.

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