Secret Tape Sagas In The Ghanaian Political Circles: A Looming Danger

One's freedom of speech they say, ends at another person's 'right to freedom of peace and tranquillity.' However, both rights are severely curtailed when one's freedom to privacy and 'secrecy' is disrespected by people near and far.

About six months ago, I sent an article to the editor of the Africa Watch Magazine for publication. Though, it wasn't published, the editorial of the next edition of the magazine touched on virtually all the issues I raised in the article. The article was on the secret tape sagas in our political spheres. The recent tape recording involving the President and his visit to the Garden City, has given me the impetus to bring this article to the public domain again.

Every Ghanaian has the right to privacy as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. This constitutional provision in the nation's number one book of law seems to be endangered by the release of so-called surreptitious tapes that have hit the nation in recent times. And the media, especially radio has become the conduit for the propagation of this heinous act. Ghanaians have had Baba Gyama's tape, Anthony Karbo's, Atta Akyea's tape, Kofi Adam's, Sammy Awuku's and now Victoria Hammah's. The perpetrators of this arguably, irresponsible behaviour claim they are exposing the 'evils men do' in our society but can we trust their motive especially when the majority of these tapes only seem to indict one political bigwig or the other.

Intriguingly or perhaps ironically, it appears that the main actors behind these tapes are the same political bigwigs. So, can we confidently say that politicians are their own enemies? Or is it their love for the people they serve that urge or even compel them to purge their political roads of any potential competitors?

Bold and honest politicians (at least in this case), like Kennedy Agyapong have made it clear that they would not tolerate any secret recording of their private conversations by anybody. Seasoned journalists like kwaku Baako and Kwesi Prat, though, have condemned in their opinion, the political immaturity of the exited deputy Minister of Communication, Victoria Hammah, they were not oblivious of the looming danger of the act itself and minced no words in condemning it.

Surprisingly, there are a number of people from all walks-of-life condemning and lambasting the young ex-deputy minister without paying attention to what this act of secretly recording influential people in society and bringing what was not meant for public consumption to the public 'dinner table' could be a recipe for.

Indeed, one is not saying that evils devised in secret to wreak havoc to individuals, groups or a nation should not be divulged. In as much as we would want to purge the nation of evils, we should tread cautiously; we should be able to draw a dichotomy between what is meant for private consumption and what is meant for the public; some things are for the ear only not the eyes; some are for the eye not for the ear; some are for the security apparatus only; some are for certain individuals not all and sundry.

A nation whose people cannot enjoy right to privacy even though it is enshrined in her constitution is not safe; does not have peace, and trust is a mirage. Victoria's tape saga has now taken a different twist with young men and women who are into politics been branded incompetent, weak and unintelligent. Yet, these young politicians belong to the intelligentsia who are expected to lead the masses to the 'Promise Land.' Interestingly, these topsy-turvy utterances hurled at these young politicians are coming from no mean persons than politicians or people who equally aspire to hold political positions in the country.

If indeed, the young politicians are not fine brains then as a nation we should question the integrity and motive of those who followed J. J. Rawlings in his thirties to take over the highest throne on the land. Many of those followers of Dr Rawlings in his thirties as president of Ghana are those calling on the President and political leaders to be extra cautious of the young people in their administration. We have to stop the vilification of young men and women in leadership positions; it is as though they are tabula rasae.

Have we not seen, read or heard about young politicians some of whom were /are even presidents who did marvellously well as leaders? Prince Jigme of Bhutan became the head of state of his country at age 26; Joseph Kabila became the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo at age 30, during his tenure, the DRC has entered into lucrative mining deals with foreign investors and has made giant strides, though, not without pockets of conflict. And Nikola Gruevski became the Prime Minister of Macedonia when he was just 36; Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia when he was 37; Faure Gnassingbe, before becoming president was the Minister of Public Works, Mines, and Telecommunications at age 37. I couldn't agree less with Dominic Ntiwul, MP for Bimbila that there are many young people in government like Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry and Isaac Kwame Asiamah, MP for Atwima Mponua who have handled political office with responsibility. Dominic Ntiwul himself became an MP at age 25 and is currently the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament.

If President Obama of US would appreciate the potentials in young African leaders and launch the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in 2010 as a signature initiative that offers succour to young African leaders as they work to facilitate growth and prosperity, fortify democratic governance, and improve peace and security across the continent, why can't we do same instead of making capital out of one young politician's blunder to bastardise the youth at the helm of affairs. Or that as Jesus said in the good Book, “A prophet has no honour in his own town.”

May I ask a dollar question? Do we as Africans and for that matter Ghanaians in the 21st Century still suffer from the migraine of traditional belief that wisdom resides only in grey heads? May I know whether none of the old political moguls has ever goofed? There are young people of 29 and 30 years, who are Doctors and Professors, should we say they are not old so their inputs to nation building should be bastardised? It is about time we stopped this hypocrisy and vicious cycle of the youth been exuberant but unintelligent and behave higgledy-piggledy.

The news of the 'Vikileaks' tape and many other political tapes is all over the world. Users and funs of social media have not spared the poor lady at all; with some calling her all sort of names. The world is watching Ghana with eagle eyes contemplating the sureness of what we pride ourselves of most __ peaceful nation. Many people are asking questions about the competence of the Ghanaian youth to transact businesses with; to hold executive positions in national and international enterprises and the privacy and safety of businessmen and women in the country.

The content of most of these political tapes has the potential of throwing our nation into frenzy and causing serious damages to individuals, groups and society. Indeed, as I agree with Mr Malik Baako that some aspects of the tape are “politically damaging to the lady, government, the country and the judiciary;” it is sad to hear young aspiring politicians like Chris Arthur of TESCON, KNUST make all kinds of very caustic remarks about other young politicians all in the name of 'shaming the opponent for political gains.'

Let us interrogate James Agyenim Boateng's question posed on Peace FM's morning show, Kokrokoo on Wednesday 13th November, 2013:

“Where was the NPP when Sammy Awuku was claiming that they have judges at the Supreme Court? If that is the path to go, I accept; but the Chief Justice must also investigate the Awuku tape.”

Clearly, all the political parties in Ghana have something under their sleeves and if the way to go about it is to secretly tape people and hurl them to the court on the basis of those recordings, then, I believe what we are seeing is just the beginning of our woes as a nation.

To echo the top local language morning show host, Kwame Sefa Kayi of Peace FM, I will say “if it's not about you, you say nothing really is happening.” Kwame Sefa Kayi told his panellists on the Kokrokoo Show that he was not fond of tapes (secret tapes) and that he did not play such tapes. This is not to ennoble office holders in society who goof because they fail to put a rein on their tongues. What matters is that we should thread meticulously when castigating others because no one knows tomorrow.

Let us all condemn in no uncertain terms this so-called secret-tape-syndrome which is putting so much trepidation into people and eroding trust from society. Both politicians and nonpoliticians should be mindful of what they say, where, when, and how they say what they say; not underestimating to whom and about whom they say what they say.

“No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home or property, correspondence or communication except in accordance with law and as may be necessary in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others” (1992 Constitution of Ghana, Article 18, Clause Two).

If the above clause is essential in Ghana's egalitarian dispensation, then, we must all throw our support behind Lawyer Kakra Essamuah's call on the government to seek a court order forbidding the airing of leaked controversial tapes on radio.