Odododiodioo University: Ghana; Are We That Scared?

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor...” - Bishop Desmond Tutu

The question has been asked as to whether as a country we are in normal times?The answer to this question is not in my candid opinion that simple. I believe it needs serious consideration before one comes to a firm and objective conclusion. The question posed above has come about as a result of resent pronouncements by some Ghanaian pointing to the fact that there is a tendency of some lunatic somewhere causing an uprising or in plain word staging a coup d'état . As to whether the pronouncements reflect the the thinking of majority of Ghanaian I do not know.

Fortunately for me and may be my generation, we have not witnessed or lived through the coup era or period in Ghana. Reading the literature available, I do not think it was a pleasant period. Some of these people attains the moral high ground but end up performing abysmally considering their earlier philosophies, power and resources at their disposal at the time. In view of this I am against the lawful overthrow of elected governments and even those who overthrow military government must as soon as possible handover to a democratically elected government within the shortest possible time.

Now back to my earlier questions and the reasons for that question. To answer the question ,lets look at the situation as we have now. We are in a period where we have labour organization going on strike while others have given indications of their intention to go on strike. let's look at some few examples. The Ghana national Association Of Teachers (GNAT) went on strike at the time student were preparing to write the west African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (a very important examination in their academic life).The University Teachers Association(UTAG) the time students were about rounding up for the semester. As we speak UTAG has only suspend the strike but has not called it off. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) as it is now are on strike and has even intensified the action by withdrawing emergency services. Again pharmacists are on strike. It is worth noting that the services of the above workers are so essential that they cannot be easily be replaced irrespective of whether they justified or not. It is also at this time that the president of the state has stated that the meat has been chewed to the bone. In an era where Ghanaian have accused government of corruption and cagey deals. Governments have also responded but as to whether its convincing or not is another issue for another discussion. The truth is that , whether justified or not coup makers have capitalized on such issues to topple governments in the past especially considering our political history as a country. Therefore, another question must be asked. Is someone justified to believe a 'lunatic' somewhere can really stage a coup or even attempt it?.I SAY YES! In view of this, people have made statements to suggest that someone can stage a coup considering such a situation as we have now and since then they have either been invited for questioning or will soon appear before the security agencies at a future date. Some of these people include Major Budu Koomson(http://www.modernghana.com/news/458648/1/national-security-questions-budu-koomson-over-coup.html), Hayford Atta Krufi(http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201304/104282.php), Ken Ofori-Atta(http://news.peacefmonline.com/news/201304/161914.php).Contrary to the opinions expressed by some of Ghanaian that the invitation was unnecessary I will like to reluctantly agree with the security agencies.This is so because for all you know they might be having some information we might not be in the know.So i will agree in principle with the security agencies.

However,I disagree with their seemingly selective way of dispensing justice especially from the periods leading to the 2012 general election till date and I believe that is the reason some Ghanaian feel the police invitations mentioned above are unwarranted.For example the way the security agencies handled the Yaw Boateng Gyan case prior to the election (he openly admitted that was his voice on the tape) and the Kakra Asamoah statement concerning the election petition(http://politics.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201212/98496.php).I thought the two were serious national security issues.The Kakra Asamoah case was a serious politically incorrect and explosive comment. Surprisingly, it fell on the deaf side of the ears of the security services.I need not refer them(security services) to article 3 Clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana states to indicate how serious that comment was and still is.

If we compare these two scenarios to how the security agencies handled cases like the kennedy Agyapong case and Ursula Owusu assault in the Odododiodioo constituency. Clearly one can see some level of selective amnesia( apologies to Abdul Malik Kweku Baako) in discharging their duties.

Taking all the above analysis into consideration ,i think its important to ask the question ,Ghana;are we that scared? Are we really scared of a coup ?Are we dealing with the issue in a sincere manner ? i do not think so in my humble opinion!

If we are really serious and sincere why should we wait for instance in the Ken Ofori Atta issue for 5 weeks after his (Ken Ofori Atta) lecture while those who have openly indicated their intention to support the over throw a president they do not favor should the supreme court of the land rules in his favor .This is selective justice my fellow Ghanaian. Serious nations deal seriously with issues of national security in a sincere and serious manner. The Boston bombing and the swift response from American is a classic example. What our security agencies are doing smacks of selectivity and Ghanaians must speak.

Fellow Ghanaians,I want to at this point state, that if care is not taken Ghana will be reduced to a police state. A state where individual rights and freedom are suppressed. A state where the ruling class determines what one have to say. I believe the repeal of the criminal libel law was to make us freer because it is only in freedom that one can realize his/her full potentials. I believe free speech unites us even in that diversity. I believe as Ghanaians we must be responsible in what we say but I also believe state institutions must not play the proverbial hawk who comes to take away the chicks from the hen with impunity. I believe we must all play by the rules .Above all I believe in the school of thought that says that there is a special place in hell for those who do not speak against what they think is injustice. Our security agencies must deal with all Ghanaian in a fair manner to win public trust. They have what is takes to make Ghana a safe place for all. Once more let me state that Ghana need not to be scared but rather state institutions must work to win the trust of majority of Ghanaians.

By:Joab Brown
final year student University of Ghana
0265285424

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