How dare they? a response

In the aftermath of the shameful unleashing of political thugs on some voters at La Bawaleshie in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election of January 31, 2019, the Minister of Communications, Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, sought to play down the need for any investigation at all into the matter.

In an interview with journalists, she demanded to know whether any such investigation had been carried out into past by-election violence at Chereponi, Talensi, Atiwa, Ofinso and other areas.

With all the annoyance and irritation she could muster towards the opposition for asking for an investigation, when they themselves had sullied hands, she spat out: "how dare they?"
That interview by the minister has stayed with me since it was aired, I believe it was on February 1, 2019.

As I go about my business, her words: "how dare they!" keep ringing in my ears and each time it does, I find myself coming up with reasons for the audaciousness of the opposition, the frank and wise, who may be tagged "against" and all right-thinking Ghanaians who call for an investigation.

First, we dare because we are in a democracy and the right thing ought to be done in the Ayawaso West Wugon matter.

We dare because President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the man you serve under, Madam, is supposed to be the champion of the rule of law and not of the brute show of force and thuggery.

We dare because when it occurred in all the other by-elections and was swept under the carpet, Ghanaians became worried.

Luckily, along came the New Patriotic Party (NPP), offering a better deal. A better deal of such matters being dealt with expeditiously and transparently.

Thus, we gave you the mandate.

Madam, we dare ask for an investigation because limbs have been lost at Ayawaso West Wuogon.

We dare because one of the victims of the indiscriminate shooting by operatives deployed by the Minister of State in charge of National Security, Mr Bryan Acheampong, Ishau Yaro, has had to go through an amputation.

We dare because it is becoming senseless, the high stakes of winning elections just for politicians to lord it over citizens and imperil their lives.

We dare because common Ghanaians are nauseated by your kind of tit-for-tat politics. It has resulted in no transformational progress for the country, but stagnation.

We dare because that type of politics is childish and will not lead to the realisation of our aspirations as Ghanaians.

We dare because the violence at Ayawaso and all other by-elections are wrong.

We dare because we are stakeholders in this Ghana, it does not belong to just one party.

With all the discussions in the aftermath of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election showmanship by the government and its agents like you Madam, worrying information from experts tell of the proliferation of guns, porous borders and political party machomen infiltrating state institutions.

What will be your record (personally) and your party's record in history in solving these challenges?

I hope by then, you would have had a change of mind and of heart to be charitable enough in extending an olive branch of peace towards all you think oppose you.

You must be charitable now because you have the power and can use this power you have to either perpetuate this cycle of violence or take the more noble route (that is characteristic of all great leaders such as Nelson Mandela) to forgive the excesses and violence of the past and push forward with acts of peace in thoughts, words and actions.

We dare because we care about our country and our future within.

We dare because our government is disappointing us!

We dare because as leaders, you should all know better!

Writer's email: caroline.boateng@graphic.com.gh