TAMING THE MENACE OF INDICIPLINE; WHOSE DUTY?

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO : AND WHEN HE IS OLD , HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. PROVERBS 22 : 6 .

In recent times we have been witnessing a lot of indiscipline in our society not only by the youth but incredibly , some of our leaders and elders. Indiscipline is rampant in society nowadays . It is not only happening in politics but also , in the educational institutions like the second cycle and tertiary institutions and others like chieftaincy and even in some churches .

INDISCIPLINE .
Indiscipline means lack of discipline . It is behavioral disorder that is classified as an act of delinquency . It is often the cause of a lot of mental emotional , and also physical damage , which involves damage to property in homes , schools and offices .

CAUSE.
This happens when a person especially , child does not get what he or she wants .This time it is not the children rather the youth , the leaders and the elders who know better and can tell the difference between right and wrong who are proudly showing indiscipline all over as means of expressing their grievances .

INDISCIPLINE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS .
It is happening both in the Second Cycle and Tertiary institutions . For instance, during the recent grand congregation of the University of Ghana , Legon on March 21, 2010 an acts of indiscipline nearly marred the beauty of the function. Students who are the future leaders were seen chanting profane songs even in the presence of some dignitaries including Busumuru Kofi Annan, who is also the Chancellor of the University . I later learnt the authorities had apologized .

Persistent vandalism by some secondary school students destroying school properties which results in the closure of the particular school do affect not only the academic calendar but the discipline students as well.

INDISCIPLINE IN POLITICS :
With acrimonious political divisiveness and unconcealed hatred between the ruling party and the opposition parties especially as in the case of the National Democratic Congress [NDC ] and New Patriotic Party , indiscipline if not checked will always occur and will utterly destroy the quality of democracy that we have adopted and practicing. Indiscipline does not only happen between the ruling and opposition parties but can occur within a particular party. Conflict normally do occur within a party.

The continued bad blood between the opposing political parties and within a party keep on compounding the security situation in the form of recriminations and counter recriminations . Opposing politicians manipulating the peoples grievances to pursue their own political agenda. For instance Mr. Kofi Quantum wrote “ the poisonous political battle between the NDC and NPP had reached its destructive worst ” . We all witnessed what happened after the irresponsible utterances by Nana Baafi Darkwa , who boastfully alleged that former President J. J. Rawlings deliberately burnt his house and dare any person to challenge him. He was therefore sentenced by a court of competent Jurisdiction and because o that the opposition minority in parliament boycotted parliamentary proceedings in the name of showing solidarity.

Recently some N. D.C. supporters have been going on the rampage . Some section of the supporters who think they have not been given what is called “ appeasement politics ” and also been marginalized are now taking the law into their own hands. Section of the supporters who are also not satisfy with the performance of some of the government appointees especially their respective Municipal and District Chief Executives and the failure on the part of the President to fire or dismiss them resort to lawlessness . Typical example is the M.C.E. of Yendi, Mr. Mahama Walvis who was threatened by some irate N.D.C. supporters. In Bunkpurugu / Yunyoo in the Northern Region , N.D.C. Chairman was shot . Some happened in Asikuma , Odoben , Brakwa constituency as well as Karaga . It was alleged that a wind shield of a pick-up belonging to N.D.C. constituency Chairman was smashed. Furthermore , some N.D.C. supporters in the Northern Region are demanding dismissal of Mr. Mark Wayango, the Regional Minister. It is not only the N.D.C. youth but also the opposition and the elders as well , for instance it was alleged that an N.P.P. Member of Parliament has threatened to deal with his D.C.E.

INDISCIPLINE IN CHIEFTAINCY:
Chiefs are the very embodiment of our tradition. They represent authority but not the authority itself. We had our chiefs before the white man came. Chieftaincy is one of the enduring institution . In the past the role of a Traditional Chief was not only to lead his people to fight a war but also to defend and protect them. Indiscipline is now affecting the beauty of Chieftaincy because of politics , ethnicity ,and tribalism. Chieftaincy which has its own hierarchy exists aside the democratic system of government. The 1992 Constitution recognize the Chieftaincy institution but prevent Chiefs from participating in active politics as Article 276[1] clearly stipulates that “ a chief shall not take part in active politics and any chief wishing to do and seeking election to parliament shall abdicate his stool ” .

Also Article 272 of the same constitution under Nationa

l House of Chiefs which represent all chiefs at national level shall [a] advise any person or authority charged with any responsibility under the constitution or any other law for any matter relating to or affecting chieftaincy.

Recently some chiefs are claiming their party is in power and because of that they can do whatever they like. Usually chiefs do adopt a strategy by aligning with a government in power , as declared by Pinkney that “ Chiefs in Ghana has always shown considerable resilience by trimming its sails to different political winds without either capitulating to higher authorities or trying to meet them head on” . Hence it is inimical for a particular Chief to associate himself with a particular political party. We all know what happened between the Techiman Chief and Tuobodom Chief which compelled the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II , summoning the Asanteman Council , venting his anger by declaring he will arrest the Techiman Chief if government and the Security Agencies fail to take decisive action on the matter. The same chieftaincy dispute are occurring in some parts of the country resulting in some death .

ANY JUSTIFICATION ?
I personally don't think there should be justification. From the point of view the supporters may be disappointed or dissatisfied with the performances of some appointees as in the case of some Metropolitan ,Municipal and District Chief Executives but that should not give them the opportunity to resort to these unacceptable behaviors and actions . As matter of fact the insults , fighting , vandalism, accusations as way of expressing disappointment and dissatisfaction is not right and cannot be justified . There are structures in every institution which every member should channel his or her grievances through . For instance , in political party there is the National Executives, Regional Executives , Constituency Executives , Branch or Zonal Executives .

The former President and the founder of N.D.C. Flt Lt J. J. Rawlings , at a forum in Ho, was alleged to have urged the youth of the party to be bold and not to allow their sense of what is right to go waste but should let the government know the truth. “ if you lose your courage …be bold in saying what the reality is , you have the responsibility to guide the government with the truth because your government is in power ” . He went further to say that “ today we are contending with some of those N.P.P. Characters misbehaving at various intuitions ” . Asking “ can we not take action to redress the rot , can we not investigate or reinvestigate these wrongs ” ?

Was the former President indirectly telling the youth to take the law into their own hands?

Indiscipline here, indiscipline there, indiscipline everywhere. Indiscipline in Politics , indiscipline in Chieftaincy, indiscipline in schools , indiscipline in Marriage , indiscipline in Security institutions , even indiscipline in CHURCH [ House of LORD]. The question therefore , is whose duty to check these family of Indiscipline.

EDWARD KWEKU ARKHURST

AFRICAN UNIVERISTY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS , BOX LG 510,
LEGON –ACCRA. GHANA.
WEST AFRICA.

kwekhurst@yahoo.com

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