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04.09.2008 Feature Article

TAMALE MAYHEM: N.P.P OR N.D.C?

TAMALE MAYHEM: N.P.P OR N.D.C?
04.09.2008 LISTEN

The recent political tension in Tamale and its environs is quite disturbing and worrying. The two big political parties at the centre stage, that is the ruling New Patriotic Party and the largest opposition party N.D.C and none of them want to take responsibility for the violence in the volatile region. But the truth of the matter is that one of them is definitely responsible for the confusion. Northern Ghana includes upper West Region; its capital town is Wa, Upper East Region its capital is Bolgatanga and Northern Region its capital is Tamale.

Northern region for sometime now is noted as a war zone area in the whole country, and even the out side world. This signal does not portray the good name of Northern region. This region has the largest land area in the whole country with great potential in agricultural production that is farming of crops e.g. cereals and rearing of animals such as cows, goats and sheep.

As Ghana is preparing to go to polls on December 7th, politicians are finding every way and means of securing political power. The ongoing violence in Tamale is a typical example where politicians are inciting their followers to engage in unhealthy bloody violence. Politicians instead of fixing the problem are rather apportioning blame on each other for the violence.

However the short and long term effects of what is happening in Northern region can not be overemphasised. At the moment so many people have fled from the affected communities leaving the weak and the vulnerable to their own fate. Economic activities in the area have come to a halt, the social life of the people is badly affected as people can not move about freely to carry on with their daily activities without fear. Children can't go to school and access to medical help is also a problem. Those mentioned are some of the short term effects.

The long term effects are the loss of people lives which could have been of great importance to the whole nation. People have also lost their properties which they can not regain. Investors would not like to come to such areas that are prone to war. The people will continue to live in abject poverty since illiteracy rates will raise due to closure of schools.

Northern Ghana is considered the poorest in the country coupled with high illiteracy, diseases, ignorance and superstition. It is therefore shameful for people from this part of the country to be seen as warriors. The development gap between northern Ghana and southern Ghana is incomparable and yet northern Ghana would not take a queue from that.

It is high time northern Ghana wakes up from their slumber and starts doing something positive to bring development to the area instead of war. Tamale is seen as a disgrace region in the north because of its recent violence records. Northerners have made themselves so weak to politicians that, they use them to kill their own people.

Interestingly, those who beat the war drums “politicians” you would never find them in the war front, they rather go behind with monies and arms to support and at the end innocent souls would be lost. The situation in Tamale should be a matter of concern to all well meaning Ghanaians before it escalates and can not be managed.

Again northern Ghana especially Tamale should not try to destabilise the peace that the country has enjoyed for the past years. The world is looking at Ghana to see how Ghanaians would conduct themselves during and after the general elections.
This up coming elections is described in the political circles as the most crucial since 1992. Ghanaians would score another credit from the international community if the election is conducted free and fair. And the saying that “we are the champions of democracy in Africa” would be maintained.

The issue in Tamale needs a multi dimensional and a holistic approach to bring a long lasting peace to the area. The institutions responsible for conflict managements should be proactive. The role of the media, religious bodies, politicians, civil society, and security agencies should be part of the process to bring the situation under control.

By: ABDULAI SUFYAN. (00447503988578) UK.

NB: I am the author of the article “why does President Kufour shun upper west region?”. Thanks very much.

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