The tale of the two Tafos
I have since my infancy considered my homeland Ghana to be a very peaceful and lovable place to live in. However, events over the last couple of years and to be precise last week have affected the way I am looking at the country now and very apprehensive of the image we may be carving for ourselves and the nation.
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My worry stems from our sheer disposition to violence sometimes even without provocation. Take the case of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Abuakwa North Constituency, the late Honourable Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, who was brutally stabbed to death by a hoodlum said to be 19 years old.
The circumstances surrounding the death of the lawmaker is disturbing and horrifying.
Seeking Justice
Last week I wrote about the episode and so would not like to repeat it. My concern now with this case is to see the perpetrator or perpetrators brought to justice.
It is for this reason that all must try as much as possible to leave the police to do their work and not dabble in hearsays and rumours.
I say this because snippets of information that got out when the alleged murderer was apprehended was that he did not act alone but in concert with others now at large.
We are hearing presently that the self-confessed killer is now saying that his motive was not to kill the lawmaker but to steal.
In fact we hear that when he was put before court he was about to spill his heart out but was stopped by the presiding judge who cautioned him to be careful of whatever he would say because he had not been charged yet.
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High-profile murder
While that is the case, the public which is eager to get to the bottom of the matter has already set tongues wagging of a seeming attempt by unseen hands to leave the alleged killer off lightly.
It is in the face of such assumptions that it would be important that the police regularly apprise the public properly of the goings-on of the case in order to not leave the public to conjecture falsely.
Peace tour
Meanwhile, in the Ashanti Region, the National Chief Imam, Sheik Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, and members of the National Peace Council were on a tour of Tafo near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region dousing the flames of hatred and violence that wrecked the once peaceful town.
I doff my heart to the Chief Imam. He has shown leadership and I hope other religious leaders would follow his example.
But there was one thing that came out of the peace efforts that has not gone down well with me. And that is the statement by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Peter Anarfi, that all those 40 or so men arrested in connection with the riots that destroyed properties running into hundreds of thousands of Ghana cedis and left one person dead are to be left off the hook without charge.
Furthermore, he said all those who had run away into hiding are free to come home because their sins have been forgiven.
Crime is crime
My heart skipped several beats when I heard this and I still ask myself over and over where this country is heading.
What has prompted the amnesty and is it going to happen only to the Tafo rioters or to other people in other parts of the country who may for one reason or another also decide to riot and destroy and maim and murder!
Like the Daily Graphic editorial of Tuesday, February 16, 2016 noted; in every society laws are made to ensure the sanctity and sanity of social life.
Wherever there are no laws, there is complete chaos, as people do what they like and go scot free. Would the perpetrators show any remorse for their actions now that they would be made free in spite of their atrocities?
It is important that we watch the way we handle matters of such nature and not allow them to grow into monstrosities that we may find difficult to contain in future.
A crime is a crime and must be treated as such, else we shall be encouraging our youth to exact their pound of flesh whenever there is disagreement because they know they will not be punished.
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