When Some Ghana Institutions Are Becoming Our New Dictators

First, I think Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford comment about Ghana Parliament was not polished and raw. He should have polish his comment. Putting aside some of the offensive comments in his statement, I think he was delivering a message that every Ghanaian see about our Parliament, but we do not say or discuss it because of fear of contempt. Let us condemn the bad words he used but what influenced him to say this? What was the rationale of his statement? Is the Parliament of Ghana always right? And that Mr. Casely-Hayford is wrong?

Some of our government institutions are becoming a new dictator to us. They honestly hate people giving a negative comment about them. For example the Judiciary, Police, Arm Forces, Parliament, etc. do not like it when you talk about them negatively. They assume their authority is above citizens and that we should worship them by hook or crook!

Can these institutions take ballistic attacks from the general public just like how the Presidents get? Since the on set of the fourth Republic of Ghana, our Presidents J.J. Rawlings, John Kuffour, Attah Mills, John Mahama, and Nana Addo has been exposed to public insults and all sort of comments. But we did not see anyone charged contempt by these Presidents.

The freedom of speech was not made to attack only Presidents rather, if you see something, say something. I do agree that you have right to say anything, but your right should not infringe on others. But under this context, I am not talking about infringing on others right; rather we must do away with the fear some state institutions are putting in us. That if you talk about us, you may be beaten, threatened or subject to contempt. Having said this above, it is also important to respect our state institutions.

The need to create a space to criticize every organization is important in a democratic environment. Citizens should not be made to fear to talk about the Arm Forces, Police, Judiciary, Parliament, or any institutions in the country. We did not create these institutions to give us a new form of dictatorship because we have had autocratic regimes a lot. We want to live freely in a democratic setting without fear or favor and freely express ourselves.

Say No To Institutional Dictatorship!