“INSULTICIANS” MUST TONE DOWN

It is not uncommon to hear insults on our airwaves in recent times. One would wonder who the people are on media platforms calling each other names.

It is however disheartening to know that they are none other than our astute politicians who have decided to ignore major issues concerning the citizenry only to throw dust in our eyes by calling each other names.

It is unbelievable how ordinary Ghanaians call in to programs, especially on radio, to call former Presidents and even the sitting President names! How can we blame them? When people in higher positions who are supposed to know better and lead with example are the ones mudslinging one another here and there just to score cheap political points, what else can one expect from their followers?

What one will expect anytime a politician calls the opponent names is that all will come on board to condemn him/her. It is surprising however that anytime it happens, the person's political party members do everything humanly possible to justify the insult. The person instantly becomes a hero/heroine. Those on the other side, on the other hand, quickly jump to condemn the person. Yet the same people who condemn insults today will defend it tomorrow when the offender happens to be a member of their party.

When people throw insults about and say all manner of things, we call it freedom of speech. Why do we abuse the rights given to us by our constitution? I heard that in some years back, people wouldn't dare insult our MPs and Ministers, not to talk about the President. Now that we have accepted democracy, we take undue advantage of it.

It is true that we are enjoying tremendous peace in this country. Yes, it's absolutely true. It however doesn't mean that this peaceful atmosphere cannot turn into a nightmare overnight. These insults sometimes have the potential to mar the peace we are enjoying now.

As the elections beckon, I'm appealing to the leaders of the various political parties to try as much as possible to discourage their members from playing the politics of insults. While doing so, they should be sure that they lead by example. They MUST be circumspect in their utterances.

Politicians who have also put it upon themselves to push their opponents to the wall have to know that they are doing the nation more harm than good. What I want them to always remember is that, whatever affects the eyes, affects the nose.

Religious and Opinion leaders MUST also discourage their people from associating with “Insulticians”, that's how I prefer to call politicians who use insults.

As citizens who have the nation at heart, we MUST condemn and disassociate ourselves from them as well.

The campaigns from now till the elections MUST be based on issues and ideas. Issues concerning Education, Health care, Employment, Living conditions, etc are supposed to be their priority. When they are given platforms to face their opponents, we expect them to debate the issues.

Once all these are done, we'll continue to enjoy our peace as well as the good image we have managed to create for ourselves across the globe. I hope someone is listening.

MAY GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA.
Benedicta Baka
Email:[email protected]