Songs From Techiman

Political activists are at one anothers' throats in techiman in the Brong-ahafo Region. they have been trading accusations against one another for the past few days.

One critical thing which has come out of the political play, especially on the airwaves, in the grain trading centre is that the belligerent activists are spilling the beans about what they did for their paymasters – a revelation which is heart-wrenching.

So much can be learnt from the revelations from the engagements. The fact that some politicians – educated persons – being looked upon as agents of positive change for the country can engage others to go and kill or maim their compatriots in other political parties speaks volumes about the stuff some persons are made of.

Indeed, this negative phenomenon is one feature of Ghanaian politicians stakeholders have tried almost futilely to thwart over the years. To think that after so many years since independence we still have this negative feature among us is unwelcome news.

While this cantankerous conduct on the part of bad politicians has led to unnecessary fatalities with no trace to their sources by law enforcement agents, it has also led to victims suffering permanent incapacitation.

The story of a teacher in Techiman who suffered very serious acid burns after he had been virtually bathed with concentrated sulphuric or hydrochloric acid or so by hired political activists made worrying headlines when the incident occurred a few years ago. The victim's studies in a university at the time were truncated as he had to be flown abroad for treatment.

Although now back, the marks left on his countenance are permanent reminders of what nasty politics can unleash in society.

Law enforcement agents appear to have added the file of the acid bath to others about which they have failed to make any headway in investigations. Now that these revelations are being made, is it not time for the police in Techiman to bring down the file on the subject and invite those who appear to know so much about what happened, especially those behind the acid bath?

We have learnt about how rival activists whose man suffered the acid bath intend activating the citizen arrest powers so they can nab the deputy minister whose name has been linked with the injury-inflicting operation and hand him over to the police.

The fallout from such an attempt in a polarised country can only be imagined. We wish the law enforcement agents could invite those trading accusations against one another and the deputy minister being accused to assist them in what should be a fresh bout of investigation into the infamous Techiman acid bath.

Confidence in the law enforcement system can only be enhanced or restored through such actions.