2022 must unite us

So soon another year is with us, and already we are in the fourth day of 2022.

As happened in 2021, and, of course, every year, time is ticking, waiting for no man.

For many of us, it has become a tradition to begin the year with greater hopes and expectations. Indeed, every new year is welcomed with new promises, resolutions and life decisions.

We at the Daily Graphic believe that with careful planning and execution, all our expectations, be they from the government or the governed, could be met as the year unfolds.

We further trust that all of us must let go of old disputes and fights and focus on the things that unite us as a people who are determined to overcome our developmental challenges.

As the conscience of the nation, the Daily Graphic recommits and repledges to serve you, our loyal readers, and the country as a whole as an objective newspaper and compelling storyteller.

This mission we hold sacred because newspapers, apart from serving as important reference materials, are the lifeblood of healthy and well-functioning democracies.

Over the past seven decades, the Daily Graphic has played its role of keeping the citizenry abreast of current events, raising awareness of various issues confronting the nation and holding governments accountable.

Meanwhile, at certain times we cannot gloss over some unfortunate incidents in our politics which tend to threaten national cohesion.

We are now witnessing growing intolerance within our political space and the use of intemperate and hate language by some of our politicians and their followers.

In 2022, we implore Ghanaians to be more accommodating of opposing views and eschew acts that divide us more than unite us.

We must direct all our brain and brawn in pursuit of national unity and cohesion through which we can be guaranteed economic prosperity.

Instructively, as the experience in some African countries demonstrate, national cohesion is not anything even culturally, ethnically, linguistically and religiously monolithic or homogenous societies can afford to take for granted.

Some of these countries also teach us not to underestimate the capacity of political minds and political entrepreneurs to invent, manipulate and weaponise ‘difference’ for political or regime gain, with tragic consequences for national cohesion.

There are many lessons to guide us, as a country, to be mindful of the unhealthy developments which took place last year in our political space.

Notable among them were the physically violent acts displayed by our Members of Parliament on the floor of the House during proceedings.

Another sad commentary on our democratic practice is the fact that responsible, civic-minded non-partisanship is under unrelenting attack from partisan political elements who appear increasingly suspicious of and hostile to any demonstration or assertion of partisan neutrality in our current environment.

If this ‘you're either with us or against us’ view of partisanship succeeds in undermining national unity, we may be left wanting and bereft of honest brokers should a national crisis arise from inter-party political dispute.

We must not underestimate the luck factor in our comparatively more fortunate experience. But luck is not anything we can bank on.

Achieving or enhancing national cohesion is a never-ending work-in-progress, a superordinate national goal that demands deliberate nurturing and thoughtful political management and statecraft.

There is also a clear recognition that the work of building and safeguarding national cohesion is not one for the State or the government alone; that there is, in particular, an important role for political parties, as well as individuals.

We need our nationally prominent clergy, chiefs and civic leaders themselves to demonstrate statesmanlike non-partisanship by staying above the partisan political fray.

The picture we have painted is meant to be precautionary, not prophetic. It implores us not to let our guard down or take our successes and good fortune for granted.

We can be justifiably proud of the gains we have made as a mature democracy.

These gains and lessons must continue to inspire us to deepen our commitment to democratic pluralism, while working to preserve and enhance our national cohesion, always remembering that these two qualities — our democratic pluralism and our enduring national cohesion — while still work-in-progress, are among our principal sources of strength, our soft power in an often turbulent neighbourhood. May we continue to keep it that way.

Happy 2022 — let’s all have a fulfilling unfolding year.