Equalising Odious Abhorrent Virulent Speech

“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. Hamlet”- William Shakespare.

Kwahus are particular about Easter, and they “live” it. Last Easter Saturday would have passed as a normal Kwahu Easter morning. After a light work-out, the Kwahu people – and their visitors – would have settled down to fufu – ne – abenkwan or fufu – ne – nkatenkwan. The Paragliders, the pilots from the U.S., Ghana,…

And the NPP politicians were there in their numbers Dubbed: Arise and Build Unity walk). Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President, Justin Kodua Frimpong General Secretary, Henry Nana Boakye national organizer, various MPs. They decided to do a walk –out. Afterwards, Dr. Bawumia made a speech. He jibed at John Mahama: “Can John Mahama mention just one policy he introduced in this country in over his nearly 3 decades in politics? He has been a Deputy Minister, a Minister, a Vice – President and President and I want him to name just one policy”. Dr. Bawumia reiterated the many projects and policies that his NPP government had initiated.

Then, as if caught in the frenzy of the euphoria of the crowd a charged 51-year old Bryan Acheampong mounted the platform. Bryan had been a Minister of State for National Security. He Became an MP for Abetifi and when he was nominated a Minister for Food and Agriculture, he received overwhelming votes. He had been an airman in the U.S. Army and started his political career in 2016 winning the Abetifi Constituency seat for NPP withn 23,432 (74.61%) votes.

Cheered on by “home-support” Bryan proclaimed: “The NDC party will collapse if the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election, we will let them know that we have the men …. It will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen. We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost”.

And who thought the NDC would hear this and lie low? Interpretation or misinterpretation the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey charged that the party will do everything in its power to protect the democratic will and the sovereignty of the Ghanaian people”. Calling Bryan Acheampong's speech “reckless” and “treasonable”, the NDC scribe noted: “In furtherance of their evil agenda, there has been a systematic bastardisation of every single independent state institution under this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. The once-respected Electoral Commission has recently witnessed a new low, following the appointment of hardline New Patriotic Party activists into very sensitive positions in the Commission. This action by President Akufo-Addo has left many observers worried and helped to confirm that the ultimate agenda of the NPP is to use every desperate scheme to hold on to power at all cost”.

It may not surprise renders to find that Sammy Gyamfi the National Communication Officer, of the NDC, George Opare Addo, the National Youth Organizer of the NDC, Samuel Okudzeto -Ablakwa the MP for North Tongu and Joseph Yamin, the National Organizer of the NDC together say “…the statement by Bryan Acheampong only accentuates the lawlessness and arrogance being displayed by the duty-bearer of Ghana today”. They remind Ghanaians that “from Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Philippines, Guatemala, Egypt, Bolivia to Iranians overthrowing the Shah, history is replete with real mighty men crushed by people's power”. Okudzeto –Ablakwa asserts “…braggadocious Bryan Acheampong should learn from history”.

Nyaho-Tamakloe, calls Bryan Acheampong's speech “senseless, uncalled for and irresponsible”. Speaking as an elderly citizen of Ghana and a founding member of the NPP who cannot sit down unperturbed as he (Bryan) seeks to press the destructive button of the 4th Republic…can he (Bryan) honestly account for these numerous properties with independent enquiry? …I advise Bryan Acheampong to as a matter of urgency, withdraw and render an unqualified apology to the good people of Ghana for making such destructive, unlawful, unguided, unnecessary and unintelligent political statement. Our time is for sound argument on bread and butter- issues not hooliganism”.

But, Kwame Okoampa Ahoofe, who writes from the English Department of SUNY-Nassan Garden City, New York, and U.S.A. appears battle –ready for a showdown with anyone who has criticized Bryan Acheampong for this latest speech which many political analysts (NPP or NDC) find difficult to “defend”. Okoampa Ahoofe states, “ Now, let the Akufo -Addo-hating Uncle-in-law of Okogufuo Yagbonwura Kwame Gonja tell Ghanaians what his response or responses had been the various innumerable times in the past when a politically desperate candidate Mahama had issued his bloody 'Boot-for-Boot' talk about literally being poised to setting the entire country ablaze, in the event of the Bole- Bamboi native, from the Akufo-Addo created Savannah Region, massively and apocalyptically crashing out of the 2024 Presidential Election”.

Who are we to dare say, Okoampa hits below the belt when he writes, “… We all know which ethnic group of psychologically nation-wrecking mentally unhinged A-K47 addicted uniformed things, for the most part, has made themselves globally infamous for indulging in such seditious and treasonous acts of barbarism.”?

But, we thought Ghanaians had grown loathe to acerbic- mouthed people. We thought we had grown as a nation to eschew statements that will cause fear and panic. How can anyone take us down memory lane to pre- independent Gold Coast, to military adventurists, to the First, Second, Third Republics, and not move forward in the Fourth Republic where we are charged under Article 3 of the 1992 Constitution as citizens to “…defend (this) Constitution…to resist any person or group of persons seeking to commit any of the acts referred to in clause 3 of the article…”.

We thought any persons who demonstrated any penchant to 'violent' action or speech would be punished or voted against in an election. Do we call this political civilization. Should the political speeches not be flamboyant, unifying and acceptable to all and sundry (NPP or NDC)? A minister will have to work with all citizens – NPP, NDC, CPP et al. we must learn to keep our words soft and sweet: we cannot tell when we have to eat them.

The last time it was the NDC youth leader of Asawasi spewing out intolerable or intemperate language. There have been alleged incendiary effusions from all sides of the political equation – All die be die, revolutionary roots, with ability to unleash violence; violence begets silence … causing fear and panic.

NPP is thinking of “breaking the 8” Why not? Let this show by the physical development and sound economy of the nation. NDC is dreaming of eclipsing NPP for government. Why not? Who would enjoy remaining in the doldrums of political power. Every political party knows that power is the alpha and omega of modern day democracy. Is this an issue for the Police CID as Lawyer Amaliba postulates? Or do we leave it for the Peace Council?

When Pliny the Elder said in AD 60: “Ex Africa semper aliquid novi” (Always something new out of Africa), the focus was on the varieties of animals existing in Libya, Egypt. Now what will the sages say about Political Africa, South of the Sahara?

Africanus Owusu-Ansah [email protected]