The issue of political violence unfortunately still persists in Ghana’s nascent democracy, despite several attempts by agencies such as the Christian Council of Ghana, National Peace Council and other bodies to weed it out.
From all indications, it appears that followers of political parties and aspirants seeking for a position be it enviable or unattractive take delight in fighting tooth and nail to ensure that their preferred choice or candidate gets an undeserving edge over their closest contenders.
Just last Saturday, there were reports of some supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo, one of the aspirants in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearership race, attacking one Kofi Dubai, a perceived supporter of Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, also a contender in the race, at Ash Fm in Kumasi.
The reports, as we carried in our Tuesday, 27th July, 2010 edition said the latter had gone to the radio station to protect Madam Hilda Addo, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso Constituency, who was alleged to be attacked by these same supporters of Nana Addo.
The arrival of Kofi Dubai at the station, according to the report, angered loyalists of Nana, who pounced on him and brutally assaulted him leading to the loss of his two incisors.
Consequently, some leading figures of the team Alan, including Kofi Doste Ampaw, who is affectionately called Kofi 123, has come out publicly to condemn the attacks and called on Nana Addo to, in the interest of the party, call his followers to order before matters get worst.
It is based on this obvious disturbing note that we at Today would like to call on the national executive of the leadership of the party to talk to supporters of the aspirants, particularly Mr Kyerematen and Nana Addo that August 7 is not a battle of fist but an election that will see who leads the party in 2012.
Although the contest might be seen as a purely NPP affair, it is important to also note that the outcome of the election be it excellent or poor could affect our infant democracy and to a larger extent adversely affect the socio-economic development of our dear nation.
Today urges the NPP folks to be mindful of the fact that their vibrancy on the political landscape is crucial to the survival of mother Ghana hence the need to call all feuding factions in the ongoing race to order.
And inasmuch as the paper is calling on party members to cease fire, we also use this medium to remind the candidates and their ardent followers not to see the race as a battle of life and death and be prepared to accept the outcome of the election come August 7.
The paper in all fairness would like to state that it would be political mature and morally wise if the candidates would give peace a chance and go into the 2012 election as a united party.
