Samuel Ofosu Ampofo
We are in unusual times. It is not because Ghana is under a security threat but because opposition elements are busy seeking to make the country look insecure – that is good for their political project.
That, of course, is not good for Ghana yet they do not consider that outrageous and unbecoming of persons who pretend to love their country.
We wonder what kind of Ghana they want to rule after destroying it through diabolic projects like presenting it as insecure through spates of arson and kidnappings. Ghana, of course, is safer and securer than it was at the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Security issues are being politicized for electoral gains. Unfortunately, this subject when it is treated as such can trigger unsavoury fallouts for our dear country.
During WWII journalists who were privy to some major military operations to save Europe from the pangs of the Nazis such as the Normandy landings which changed the face of the war did not disclose these on the pages of their newspapers.
They joined the war effort by disclosing those details which inured to the benefits of Europe.
The lesson to be drawn from this is that partisan politics when introduced into security matters, such as we are witnessing today, would not inure to the national interest and security.
It is a strategy of the opposition to trumpet security challenges such as the seeming slowness in apprehending some criminals and the pockets of kidnappings as failings of government. Indeed, they have gone ahead to even speak about these issues in a manner intended to incite the citizens against not only security managers but also the government.
Empirical records attest to the fact that there were more cold cases under the previous administration than there are today. These are verifiable facts.
It is a fact that the security agencies are working hard to unravel the seeming intractable cases some of which are traceable to killjoy opposition strategies. Breakthroughs have indeed been made in some of the cases, of course, even under rather difficult times of dearth of logistics created by the previous government. These happily are being addressed as evidenced from the gradual retooling of the internal security system.
It is only wise when all bona fide citizens join hands to secure the country this task not the preserve of the relevant agents only.
Those who want to rule this country one day must exhibit sincere commitment to its cause by being patriotic in the manner they undertake their political agenda. Nobody is saying that the government should not be criticized when they take wrong steps but such reproaches must be steeped in sincerity, veracity and above all love for country.
Nobody caused the appearance of Islamic extremists in the Sahel. It is a development which has overwhelmed the developed world, let alone developing countries such as ours. Therefore, it behoves us to join forces to fight this common enemy next-door so that the bad guys do not develop the appetite to lock their sights on our resource-rich country. Will the opposition encourage the bad guys to disrupt our lives? Will they clap for them when they make skirmishes? It appears the foregone will attract affirmative responses and that shows how bad opposition elements are in this country.
The security agents are doing their best under the constraints to track down criminals involved in the patches of kidnappings which reared their heads recently.
With limited resources, a situation generated by the previous administration, the security agencies have been able to keep criminals at bay. No matter the moral challenges noticeable among some cops, the majority who are doing their work manage to keep us safe. Ghana is surely safe and far from the picture the NDC would like to present to their compatriots and the world at large.