I Have Had A Dream

It is an undeniable fact that Ghana is now at crossroads due to the impending general election, the unprecedented electoral violence that took place during the bi-election at Ayawaso West Wagon, as well as the violence that characterized the recent voters' registration.

In view of the violence that has preceded election 2020, it is an indisputable fact that several people will begin to have glimpse of what may happen during and after the election 2020.

Couple of days ago, I had a dream. In the said dream, l saw many Ghanaians running for their safety because they were been chased by hooligans who were shooting indiscriminately.

The scene that I saw was like what happened during Kenya's and Rwanda's civil war. Whether the said dream will come to pass or not, I do not know.

The caution that I would humbly like to give is that Ghanaians should not deceive themselves into thinking that because of our intermarriages and what have you, what happened in Kenya and Rwanda can never happen in Ghana.

The recent violence in Ododoodoo, a

suburb of Accra,, should be an eye - opener for all of us. The fight at Ododoodoo was between brothers and sisters.

If good people can just look on for some people to embark on violence during a mere voters' registration and a bi - election, and go scot - free, what can happen during election 2020?

In view of the situation whereby, Ghana is at crossroads, let us not only pray or condemn and advise, but also, take pragmatic measures, to remove or do away with anything that can create room for or trigger unprecedented electoral violence or civil war in Ghana.

Hence, I would like to suggest the following:

1.The Peace Council should see itself as a very powerful and influential body that can put every Ruling Government and every Electoral Commission in Ghana in check, because it has the backing of the whole nation.

The Peace Council, is not an enforcement agency but it can always insist on the right thing to be done by every Government and every Institution without fear or favour as long as what it insist on, is in the best interest of the whole nation.

The peace council can even lead the whole nation to demonstrate against an evil Ruling Government that threatens the survival and freedom of its citizens.

2. As a matter of urgency, the Peace Council, should therefore, organize an emergency meeting of all the leadership of the prominent Civil Society Organizations, Religious Bodies, Security Agencies, the Legislature, the Judiciary, the Executive and the Electoral Commission.

3.The Peace Council should lead these various bodies to insist on the implementation of the Justice Emil Short Commission's Recommendations presented to the Ruling Government for the good and peace of Ghana.

4. The Peace Council, should lead the said bodies to insist on the immediate prosecution of all those who were involved in the violence that took place during the recent voters' registration.

5. The Peace Council as a matter of urgency, should lead the said bodies to investigate the whereabout of several ammunitions that have been brought into Ghana of late, at the blind side of our security agencies.

6. The Peace Council and the said bodies should invite Mr. Asiedu Nkatia, the General Secretary of the NDC, to their meeting, to assist in giving information about the alleged removal of ammunitions to some secret places at the blind side of the appropriate security agencies. The said allegation should properly be investigated and the right thing done for the peace and good of Ghana.

7. The Peace Council should lead the aforementioned bodies to investigate the alleged para - military training that is going on in some secret places as well as security uniforms that are being prepared at the blind side of our security agencies.

8. The alleged attempt of the EC to rigge the election 2020 in favour of a particular political party, should also be properly investigated and the right thing done.

9. Whatever the Peace Council and the aforementioned bodies come up with should be made known to all Ghanaians through a press conference and the various media houses.

10. If possible, security personnel, who have been in the service for more than 4 years, should be asked to be at the polling stations and every polling station should have a soldier and a policeman or woman to prevent hooligans from causing troubles. If it is possible to deploy all our military personnel, let us do it for the good and peace of Ghana.

11. Concentration of military personnel in the Volta Region should also be discussed at the said meeting of the Peace Council and the said bodies, and the right thing insisted upon.

One may say that my suggestions have come too late, yes, but it is always better late than never.

Written by Rev. Fr. Ignatius James Yaw Amponsah