We doff our hats for the show of maturity by the Police yesterday when the strike action by the drivers under the umbrella of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) held yesterday.
There were scenes of outright lawlessness which required robust response but the law enforcement personnel preferred the engagement option which worked perfectly.
While the right to protest a situation is inalienable to all citizens of this country including groupings such as the GPRTU exercising this right must be done in a way that does not infringe upon the law.
Clearly there were incidents of such breaches which but for the special response by the Police could have resulted in rough consequences.
The Police were civil and calm even as they showed sternness as they managed the unfolding reckless and unruly attitudes by some of the union’s members.
There was no point in preventing those especially not within the fold of the GPRTU from carrying on their commuting business. The incidents emanating from some unruly drivers attacking their colleagues were uncalled for, a breach of the law and inappropriate under the circumstances. Indeed some drivers had their vehicles damaged simply because not being part of the GPRTU they were working.
Incidents were recorded where passengers were ordered to alight from vehicles by GPRTU operatives in some parts of Accra.
This is lawlessness of the highest order for which the suspects could have been arrested and prosecuted.
The issue of fuel price hike is not peculiar to Ghana. As a global trend the subject is hinged upon the forces of supply and demand especially as the other hemisphere enters winter.
Unfortunately in a country where politicians in opposition will always find a way of throwing dust into the eyes of the gullible and vulnerable the truth about issues remain concealed by the veneer of propaganda.
The ‘we shall reduce the price of fuel drastically when we come to power’ assertion by a former President still resonates in our memories at times like this. Petrol politics should always be avoided because it is unsustainable. Those who think a field is unfolding for them should remember how they burnt their fingers in the past.
As we noted earlier, protests or demonstrations are the rights of all, but in exercising this we must do so hinging our issues on the truth.
Taxes are critical aspects of governance because it is from these that funds are raised to meet recurrent and capital expenditures.
Asking for reductions in the level of taxes such as in the case of fuel is not an outrageous demand to make. To however, seek to create the impression that taxes are wicked impositions on the people by the government is a display of ignorance about what taxes are about.
There are better ways to deal with disagreements with the government. Putting forth our grievances through lawlessness as we observed yesterday should be avoided in future.
Leaders of such demonstrations must be ready to shepherd their people so incidents can be obviated. Failure to do this should of course lead to the leadership being held responsible for emanating incidents.
It is our hope that the planned meeting between government and the leadership of the GPRTU was fruitful.
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