Human Rights Abused!

The quality of the rule of law in a given country is not obscured. It is measured by the manner in which the authorities restrain themselves from taking actions which trample upon the freedoms of citizens, regardless of how much they are provoked.

A few days ago Ghanaians woke up to news about the arrest of a young man, Stephen Forson, by operatives of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) over a matter which is as intriguing as it is heart-wrenching, acting upon 'orders from above.'

We still do not know the charges preferred against him, if at all, or what he has done which has incensed those wielding state power at this time.

If arbitrariness as Ghanaians think, is behind the arrest and detention then we bet the country is inching towards a police state. The IT guy is said to have played a role in the defeat of an NDC preferred candidate for the position of Students' Representative Council (SRC) President during the recent University of Ghana students' elections.

It is lamentable that a government would dabble in students' politics the way those at the helm have been doing in the past years. We are unable to tell what leverage they wish to achieve by investing so much in students' politics, including putting their already battered reputation on the line by ordering the arrest and detention of a man they think caused their embarrassment.

Hearing a narration by the spouse of the BNI detainee evokes memories of the dark days in Ghana's history when several Ghanaians were seized from the comfort of their homes, never to be seen again.

It is instructive that the same breach of the rule of law is rearing its heard under a political party which traces its roots to the junta which killed the greatest number of Ghanaians in the history of the country.

We urge all democracy-loving people of this country to stand up against the breach so that what could be the beginning of worst things to happen in the country can be nipped in the bud.

One of the BNI operatives is said to have alluded to the usual 'order from above' being responsible for their action. When professionalism, which should be jealously guarded by security operatives, is compromised just to please the political establishment, there is cause for worry.

Today it is that young man who has been plucked from his home in the most obscene display of power by ID-card-flashing operatives, tomorrow it could be you or your cousin or even father.

Showing indifference as power is abused this way is to contribute towards the nurturing of an evil system which would soon consume everybody and reduce civility to crudity.

It is unfortunate and remorseful that having come this far in our democratic journey such nasty instances will occur.

As we compose this editorial, the family of the gentleman had gone once more to the offices of the internal security agency with a view to seeking the young man's freedom. The outcome of its visit to the state-run dungeon is very much in the minds of Ghanaians who await the outcome of it all.

The world is watching us and very soon the appropriate international agency would rate our level of human rights management and even democracy.