Destruction, seizure of state properties. The police must act decisively

History has repeated itself with the destruction and the seizure of state property by some youth alleged to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The destruction of tollbooths, seizure of public toilets and attacks on people perceived to belong to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the NPP are incidents that occurred in 2001 and 2009 after elections that resulted in changes of government.

While, ideally, public officials should not lose their jobs or fear losing them when the reins of government change, it is not so in reality because we have tied public office to politics.

It has become a ritual that when one government loses power, members of the incoming government think it is their turn to occupy certain positions by virtue of the fact that they are members of the incoming administration.

Civil servants do not work for any particular political party but the entire nation and that is why, as a nation, we must consciously move away from the unhealthy system of changing the membership of public boards and the heads of government agencies or public services as soon as there is a change in government.

Technocrats must be appointed based on their experience or expertise and their terms of engagement and not on party affiliations.

Unfortunately, we have perpetuated this unhealthy practice and injustice since our return to democracy in 1992 and everyone looks on unconcerned.

The two main political parties have also institutionalised the practice, with each waiting for its return to power to take over what are considered juicy positions in state agencies.

It is common to hear statements from attackers such as: “Our government has come and so we must also enjoy the goodies.”

This ought not to be so and the practice does not augur well for nation building; rather, it draws back development, especially when rampaging youth vent their spleen on infrastructure put up with the taxpayer’s money.

While we lay the blame at the doorstep of our politicians for encouraging the removal from office of people perceived to be sympathisers of opposition parties when a new government takes office, we also believe that the inaction of the police during reprisal attacks by the youth has fuelled the lawlessness.

Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic lauds the police for taking proactive measures to arrest the situation after the attacks on members of the NDC, the burning of tollbooths and the destruction of other public property after the declaration of Nana Akufo-Addo as the President-elect.

We, nonetheless, believe that going forward, new governments must not witch-hunt public officials just because they sympathise with another political party.

We also urge civil servants and public officials to work in the interest of the nation and not a party and act professionally in their duties.

The police must also continue to arrest people who engage in lawlessness, no matter which party they belong to.

The Daily Graphic believes that if that is done. we will not witness the state of anarchy that we witnessed these past few days and violent takeovers after elections will become things of the past.