Lawmaker Wants Guns In Ghana’s Parliament?

My Grandfather’s gun sat at the corner of his bedroom swathed by dust. It was a single-barrel gun (‘Teabrofr3’). It was a long gun probably longerthan a giraffe’s legs (six to seven feet) long. He didn’t keep it because his neighbour had one. Roger I named itwas only used for hunting. His trigger was piercing and lethal.

Growing up I never saw Grandpa carried Roger to durbars. I never saw Grandpa carried him to funerals and I never saw Grandpa carried Roger to Church services or to any social functions. Roger knew where he belonged because Grandpa kept him there.Never play with guns or a gun, they could be deadly, Grandpa told me. A gun loaded is like a drunken tank it’s not selective in its approach says this writer.And that has stuck with me to date.

You may have heard or read this statement: “You go and bring Invisible Forces and when we are saying it, you say people are talking about rumours. We shall see. We are all here. We will all start carrying guns. When we hear gun fight here we will come.”

I didn’t say that. That’s a threat issued by Dr. Clement ApaakNational Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, a former presidential staffer in the erstwhile Mahama administration. I didn’t want to use the word ‘threat’ but I chose it, because the lawmaker himself sought to uphold the idea that he wasn’t propagating rumours.

But what if it turns out that there’s no truth in all this brouhahawould Parliament sanction this legislator for raising false alarm and lying about the august house?What does this line or statement mean? “When we hear gun fight here we will come.”Where is here, one may enquire?

The MP was referring to the Parliament House. That’s right, the chamber where laws are made.

Is Apaak crying wolf?
Some people cry wolf where there’s no wolf. They just want attention. Want to be heard and be seen. Are there really wolves in Ghana’s Parliament House that seem to put the lives of MPs in danger? Well, don’t jump the gun yet and don’t get pumped up. His statement as I’ve carefully analysed could be premised on the ‘IF’ condition. So, for example, if my neighbour had a gun then I ‘m also warranted to carry one because he could use it on me God knows when. Isn’t that ridiculous?

The MP’s comment followed reports that Parliament had recruited a private firm whose members were purported to have been drawn from Invisible Forces –a vigilante groups affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). It’s alleged that groups such as the Invisible Forces, Delta Forces, and Kandahar Forces were among others recruited by to provide MPs protection.

And since the lawmaker rang the alarm bell the acting Public Affairs Director of Parliament, Kate Addo had told the local media what she knows about the recruitment exercise. Kate said Parliament recruited new security personnel and had been undergoing training to familiarise with how Parliament works.

She however, denied claims that the recruits were drawn from vigilante forces affiliated to the ruling NPP.

“It is true that Parliament, before we went on recess, had augmented the number of Policemen in Parliament. And it’s also true that it had employed new security men who are being trained about how Parliament works and who are being familiarised with the various surroundings of Parliament,” she told StarrFM a private radio station based in Accra..

Ms. Kate Addo added: “In the past few weeks over the weekend these young men have been coming for various orientations and physical training programme in Parliament…now the Saturday’s training coincided with the special sitting of the House where the Rt. Honourable Speaker was sworn in as acting president of the Republic of Ghana following the absence from the jurisdiction of president Akufo-Addo.

“That explained why they were there [but] as to whether they belong to a particular political party or not I’d not be able to speak to that but I do not know that. But, what I can tell you is that they have been employed by parliament.”

I guess the question is: Is it a crime to get a job at the Parliament House simply because of one’s affiliation to a political party A or B? What if the guards were recruited fromthe NDC’s Azoka Boys, Bolga Bull Dogs or Zongo Caucus and not from the NPP’s Delta Forces, Invisible Forces or Kandahar Forces?

I thought the way to eliminate vigilantism from our society is to create or find jobs for these young brawny unemployed guys. May I ask again, how is it wrong if indeed it was true that some of the recruits hired by Parliament came from XYZ? Are they not Ghanaians first? If there is vacancy in the Chamber and the guys cannot be accepted, where else must they go? I find this laughable.

Certainly, I hold no brief for these groups, their actions or activities in the past especially after the 2106 general elections had been appalling and a pain in the neck to say the least. Generally they were fueled by the lack of jobs in the system. Aside, I think the groups became soresentful when they realised that their Paymaster s—politicians were somehow leaving them in the middle of the Ocean. This in part is what caused the disruptive behaviour we witnessed last year and almostevery year after general elections in the country. But note they don’t just erupt like pop ads they’re often triggered by some external force (s)

So, Mr. Lawmaker I thinkunless proven that these are criminals nothing can stop them from getting a job at the parliament house. And granted they’re criminals, must we not give them a second chance?

And this is where I think you sprayed your foul odor: “We shall see. We are all here. We will all start carrying guns. When we hear gun fight here we will come.” ‘We will carry guns’. What did you really mean? Were you referring to the NDC Minority in Parliament (yes I know you are) but, I want to know from the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu if your view represents the respected group, because their silent could mean an endorsement?I should add your claim that there would be gun fight in the Parliament House because the new recruits are said to be affiliated to the vigilante groups is unfortunate and outrageous.

Woulda man run butt-naked outside because some crazy dude has nicked away his clothes?

Indeed get baffled sometimes the way the minority and majority in Parliamentbehave or lock horns. They tend to politicise every little thing, even though they’re awaresuch pettiness leadsthe nation to nowhere. And I don’t get it.

Don’t bucks even end their feud? When bucks butt heads they give themselves a break. So why can’t our politicians learn to think Ghana first rather than lock themselves up in the partisanship cells. The fact is that partisanship takes us nowhere.Perhaps it’s about time we forced (for example by signing petition) public office holders who spread falsehood to resign from their positions.