In the wake of another election
to test our still young and growing Democracy, one cannot wish for anything
other than peace. But the intense nature
of the political atmosphere coupled with land breaking political rallies and
the insatiable quest for political power by candidates of the political divide
especially candidates for the two major political parties have let most of us
on a wonderland of doubt.
We all in one attempt or the
other have shown to an extent to really appreciate the uninterrupted peace
enjoy by our dear nation but like the old saying ‘’ our attitudes have betrayed
us”.
Yeah, without a moment to sigh,
Ghana is a peaceful nation, the international world speaks well of us. This indeed attest to it as a fact, But without
looking back, it is still a maturing one. The peace is yet a perfect one.
Religious bodies, the media, the
government, the security bodies and other social groupings have assured us of
their will to keep the peace during and even after elections. But do we really
practice what we preach? What is left unknown is that the desire and the
willingness to do a good deed is not enough but conducts and actions geared
towards achieving that is what matters. Let endeavor to bridge the gap between
our words and deeds. For short let our deeds emulate the avalanche of pledges.
But before we continue to trumpet
the peace and take it for guaranteed, let’s not look afar, our neighbors to the
west, the republic of La Cote D’lvoire and others who unfortunately could not
guide the peace their states enjoy and took it for guaranteed should not be
just an example but a cast in study for us.
Yes, our differences in
idiosyncrasies and ideologies warrants us to belong to political parties of our
choice but emotions should not drive us into taking the peace we are enjoying
for guaranteed. Our access to the media in any form should not be a ground for
promoting politics of insults and war that we seem to have engaged in over the
years but rather an avenue for promoting politics of ideas. The UPs, PPs, UGCCs
and others of yesteryears have either metamorphosed into new political parties
or political parties in history. This as a matter of fact should tell us that
political parties would come and go, but the nation Ghana since independence
still remains and lives on. So if there is anything at all worth dying for, it
is the nation Ghana not any political party.
The genocide of Rwanda, a bizarre
situation which has now become history was as a result of an unguided statement
made by a call-in panelist on radio. We seem not to be moved by this situation.
The insults and vilifications on our radios so called “newspaper discussions”
have risen to planetary dimensions. I could not but simply concur with
activists calling for a ban on phone-in-sessions on our radios. Freedom of
speech is an entitlement but comes with a responsibility.
As we test the nerves and muscles
of our young and growing Democracy come December 7, 2012, let us remain
responsible, discerning and embrace peace, even if our wishes and desires do
not see the day light.
Before I sign out, let us ponder
over this food for thought “there is no bad peace nor a good war” democracy is
an exercise of the “kokromoti” as we term it in our local parlance but not war.
FELIX AKAHO JUNIOR
GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM
LEVEL 100 (A)
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