Consider personal security for our MPs

The blood of every human being, no matter his or her status, is not worth spilling unless under circumstances prescribed by law.

The sanctity of life is guaranteed by our Constitution. Article 13 Clause 1 of the Constitution says “No person shall be deprived of his life intentionally except in the exercise of the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana of which he has been convicted.”

That explains the reasons for the public outcry against the murder of people in cold blood, especially in these days where such murders are seen as contract killings.

The frequent resort to self-help by those who feel offended by their compatriots must not be allowed to be part of our character traits.

Ghana has very elaborate laws to regulate the activities of its citizens to ensure law and order as anything to the contrary can promote a state of lawlessness.

Might should not be allowed to be right, to the extent that the powerful, the rich and the strong can use their strength to subdue the weak, the poor and the vulnerable.

There is the danger that if society ignores the rule of law and adopts the rule of men, that society promotes the state of nature where life is then short and brutish because as a result of indiscipline and impunity, some elements take the law into their own hands.

Following the murder of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North, Mr J.B. Danquah-Adu, a debate has been generated as to who must be protected by the state.

Presently, the state provides security for members of the Executive, some sections of the Judiciary and Article 71 Public Office holders.

Unfortunately, because of the sheer numbers of officials who require security protection and the size of the Ghana Police Service, it is very difficult for everybody to be protected.

But MPs have since the murder of Mr Danquah-Adu been reiterating the demand for police protection.

The MPs are scared because of the bizarre circumstances under which Mr Danquah-Adu died and have since been making demands on the Police Administration. With crime assuming very sophisticated dimensions, everybody is at risk and requires the protection of the state to carry out his or her endeavours without let or hindrance.

But looking at our resources, it will be difficult to provide individual protection for members of all the arms of government and, subsequently, all persons in sensitive positions. Whatever our difficulties, the ideal thing is for everybody to feel secure in society and not protection for only the ruling class.

Be that as it may, the Daily Graphic thinks that extending personal security to MPs must be given serious considerations.

We must also bear in mind that democratic governance cannot work without an effective and efficient Parliament.

Parliament holds the purse string of the government, scrutinises all agreements and brings those who misappropriate public funds to the attention of the public.

The sensitive nature of its work requires that we protect its members from the abuse of miscreants in our society.

Others will make a case for protection because of the sanctity of life but as Desiderata said, “for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself”.

For this reason, we think our MPs deserve personal security now.