Need For Ghanaians To Ensure Peace And Stability Rather Than Political Violence

NEWS COMMENTARY ON WHY PEACE AND STABILITY OF A NATION IS MORE DELICATE AND IMPORTANT THAN A POLITICAL PARTY BEING IN POWER OR ANYONE BEING PRESIDENT

Election years are normally marked with a lot of political excitement where parties and their representatives engage in rigorous campaigns to make their candidates popular enough to attract votes from the electorates, in the hope of emerging victorious. During such periods, almost all institutions in the Ghanaian society become grossly busy as pressure mounts towards the polls due to the high hopes of the various party supporters, and they put in their best energies to warrant the best outcomes. Institutions that feel the most pressure of election seasons in Ghana include the Electoral Commission, which in the heat of the moment, undergoes structural preparations towards the conduct of the elections and the proclamation of winners. The National Commission for Civic Education is another body which undertakes public education before, during and after the election.

Civil Society Organizations also play unique roles as they campaign for due processes and best standards. One can mention the security agencies which become more vigilant as people take advantage of the period to foment social disturbances and increase politically instigated crimes. Banks also become tense as a lot of money is withdrawn to fund political activities. During this time government of the day struggles to both appeal for votes towards the elections and also bring to completion previous promises at the same time as their term of office comes to an end. Religious bodies are also affected as party candidates compete for their platforms to address the electorates. The National Peace Council, which is the coordinating body of all peace-building agencies and institutions in the nation becomes more pressurized in the time, they organize capacity building seminars for peace actors and activists, hold conferences in communities to forestall possible conflicts, engage leaders of the various parties to promote peace in their quest for power.

In fact, the whole of the country becomes tense as a result of intense politicking and campaign activities during these times. Even in this season, where we have the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the constraints it imposes on activities, political actors still find creative ways to inundate the atmosphere with intense politicking on national issues. Whatever it is, the peace and stability that a nation enjoys is far more important as they serve as the bed of growth irrespective of any party winning power or any person emerging as president. The enthusiasm that political parties and their candidates, express in their campaign by the use of media platforms, erection of billboards and pasting of posters and the sharing of flyers and all kinds of paraphernalia in every nook and cranny of the nation, same and even more, should be applied in the campaign for peaceful election.

Peace and stability is the foundation of all proper development. It is in the practice of virtues like, tolerance, patience, good faith, respect for others, endurance, and more that development thrives in a nation, as these create conducive atmosphere for innovation and initiative. It is suggested that any kind of advertisement or means of campaign by political parties, aspirants, and their representatives must also have in them messages that encourage their audiences to adopt conducts that promote peace before, during and after the processes. Corporate organizations which understand the importance of the nation’s peace in relations to the progress of their businesses, should do well to support and invest in the campaign for peace. Ghana’s peace and stability is much more delicate and important than a political party having the power to govern anyone being president. We must have hope, trust and good faith in our processes, after all, this is the only place we can call our own.

BY: REV. PATON E. K. ANYAH, BTH, TRINITY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, WEST AFRICA – LEGON, ACCRA.