Politicians must watch what they say
Let us be honest with ourselves, political gaffes – those embarrassing blunders by people professionally involved in politics, is common all across the world. And from the look of things, gaffes and those who commit them will continue to be around as long as there is competition in that field of human endeavour.
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The danger though is when the gaffes are likely to pit one group against another in conflict.
In a week, we have had two genial and kindly looking politicians from the two main political parties in the country - NDC and the NPP - make statements that a section of the people have described as unbecoming of people their sort.
In the first instance, Madam Dzifa Attivor, a former Minister of Transport at an NDC rally in the Volta Region, had charged party supporters to vote massively to retain the NDC in power otherwise if the NPP came into power, people from the Volta Region who are members of the governing NDC, would be jailed.
Memory loss
In fact, Madam Attivor was roundly condemned and rightly so. She had said that she and the current Minister of Transport, Mr Fifi Kwetey stood the chance of being sent to jail because they were Ewes.
She went on to name two Ewes jailed when the NPP government under ex-President J. A Kufuor assumed office, namely Mr Dan Abodapki and Mr Victor Selormey. What people who indulge in such political gaffes in our part of the world do is to conveniently engage in loss of memory.
In the government under President Kufuor, it was not only Ewes that were jailed but also ministers from other tribes found culpable of the cases levelled against them. Among them were Mr Kwame Peprah and Dr Sipa Yankey.
In any case, this country touts itself as a beacon of democracy under which the cardinal principle of rule of law works. Is it possible, therefore, for a minister of state to be jailed when in fact he or she has not committed any crime?
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So what is Madam Attivor’s fear if indeed she is innocent of any wrongdoing?
Don’t break rank
Her whole diatribe against the NPP on that day was to paint the party black to the people of the Volta Region. Thankfully, however, I doubt very much if the trick worked.
This country has come a long way. Ghana is 59 years old and would soon be celebrating her diamond jubilee.
At this age when we have held together, it is paramount that we do not allow any politician with ulterior motive to break our rank. Let us be mindful that politicians would come and go but there will always be the motherland Ghana.
And just when the dust was settling, the NPP’s vice-presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also throws in an overwhelming surprise not typical of him.
The man is good with economics and is doing so well on that front. My wish is for him to stay in that comfort zone.
He is reported to have said in an address to party supporters in the Sissala East Constituency in the Upper West Region that the seat of government under the current NDC did not adequately represent the two dominant religious groups in the country.
Balance in governance
The Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana calls for a balance in all spheres of governance, including appointments. Under this proviso arose the subtle condition of having a religious balance at the very top political party selection.
Even though it is not written in black and white, many political parties have gone ahead to balance their Presidential and Vice-Presidential slots with a Muslim/ Christian combination.
I have never been a supporter of this action. I believe what is required for effectiveness at the presidency does not depend so much on religious balance as on competency, skill and ability.
It is because of this that I find Dr Bawumia’s comments difficult to take. He may not have intended it the way it turned out, but the danger is that the people he was addressing may not have the freedom to analyse it properly and may rather digest what they heard on face value, coming from a role model and, therefore, go ahead to find fault with Christians.
The two political gaffes committed must inform us all to be modest and tolerant in our utterances. There is no need telling that the political temperature is heating up, requiring that cool heads prevail in order that this country is not rolled down the chasm of destruction.
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