Tame incendiary language on political platforms

Amid the rising political temperature as the December 7 general election draws closer, the Daily Graphic has noticed the growing level of incendiary language in connection with the elections.

These cases are not mere threats to the democratic governance system in the country; in some cases, the bearers of such messages have only fallen short of declaring civil war.

We are alarmed at the manner key figures have seized the political stage to threaten violence as if it produces development.

There is no point reminding anyone that politics is a contest of ideas, and when situated in a democratic system, it is a means to serve society. Political service cannot be forced on anyone, and those who seek to serve must justify to society why they must be considered for any role.

Under no circumstance does a prospective employee threaten violence on the prospective employer and still expects to be given the job ahead of other decent, equally qualified — or sometimes even better — candidates.

This is the irony of Ghana’s situation today as some politicians have assumed a sense of entitlement to political office as if it is up to them to decide the fate of the country’s democracy, and that the choice of government is now down to superior violent force.

The situation amounts to taking the country hostage rather than playing by the rules of democracy, where there is equal chance of victory as there is for defeat. It amounts to virtually threatening to seize power, rather than yielding to the tenets of democracy.

From the proud high stage of Ghana’s enviable democratic process, the threat to resort to violence in relation to the upcoming elections tends to subtract from the gains of the country’s democratic credentials.

The recent Afrobarometer report on Ghana which indicated that fewer people now preferred a democratic process in the country today as compared to 12 years ago does not speak well of those who have led the political space in the Fourth Republic.

Anything other than democracy as the country currently enjoys cannot be tolerated, but the actions of political figures must not provide the excuse for anyone to disturb the peace of the nation.

Rather than sweeping the issue under the carpet as just another round of political verbal cowardice, we find it necessary to awaken the relevant institutions of leadership to act decisively in the interest of the collective nation to prevent politicians from actualising this threat of violence in local politics.

That other countries are in turmoil on the continent not by an ordained fate. Democracy requires that the system works to satisfy everyone fairly so that there are reasons to trust the system to deliver justly. If people in responsible positions beat the drums of violence, it appears to suggest their own lack of faith in the system to arbitrate fairly.

The National Peace Council, as one of the key institutions with a mandate to promote peace in the country, may be challenged in taking certain actions, at least publicly, to douse the open call for violence, but culpable leaders must be disciplined before we call on political parties to commit to a post-election peace pact.

While a peace pact may convey a positive message, real peace cannot be achieved on the mere foundation of a pact when more serious actions, including intemperate pronouncements, are allowed to flow freely from political leadership to members of the society.

Indeed, the pronouncements of some political leaders as we have monitored in the past 10 days or so are in bad taste, and there is no need repeating them here. It does not help when people turn a deaf ear to the lack of discretion on the political campaign platform.

We, therefore, call on all well-meaning individuals and institutions to act decisively to give hope to the system to ensure that the peace of the country is not compromised.

Ultimately, political election is a job application process for the elite who seek the mandate of the electorate to lead in different capacities. It is never a means to gain access to the spoils of governance.