'Deal with people who use bad language in political discourse'
A former deputy Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has called on the Judiciary to deal promptly with people who use vituperative language in political discourse.
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That, he said, would help address the culture of insult that had engulfed the political space and which tended to undermine the country’s democratic process.
Making a contribution at a national consultative forum on promoting civility in political dialogues in Accra on Tuesday, Prof. Oquaye cited an instance in Germany when a court dealt with someone who had used insulting language against a public official in a matter of five days.
He, however, noted that in Ghana, some people did not care using insulting language in political discourse because such cases could last about five years in court.
Issues-based politics
Prof. Oquaye stressed the need for politicians to focus on what he described as ‘politics of issues’, which address the critical needs of the people.
He wondered, for instance, how much time people would spend to discuss Ebola if the disease is considered to be a threat to the nation.
“The more time we spend on politics of issues, the less time we have for politics of insults,” he said, adding, “If we don’t allow the right things to happen, there is the tendency for the wrong things to prevail”.
Need for civility
In a speech read on her behalf, the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, urged politicians to be civil in their political engagements.
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She said Members of Parliament and Ministers of State who were addressed as “Honourable” and those aspiring to such high political offices must conduct themselves with civility.
The Chief Justice, whose speech was delivered by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Sulley Gbadegbe, said civility in political discourse was a reflection of one’s maturity and tolerance towards addressing issues without using foul language.
She stressed the need for politicians to have a code of conduct, adding that such a guideline must provide sanctions against deviants.
She said the time had come for all to devote their energy towards issues that affected the development of the nation.
Consultation
The first National Consultation on Promoting Civility in Political Dialogues was jointly organised by the Civilised Politics for Enhanced Democracy (CIPED) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF).
The two non-governmental organisations are seeking to use such platforms to clean the country’s political system of insulting language and other uncivil conduct.
An official of CIPED, Ms Manuella Appiah, called on all Ghanaians to join the campaign to promote civil political discourse in the country.
Writers’ Email: kofi.yeboah@graphic.com.gh / adwofa@gmail.com