The incident at the residence of Nana Akufo-Addo
Ghana would have been managing a security challenge of disturbing consequence had the senseless assemblage by elements of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in front of the residence of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party last Sunday gone beyond the stone-throwing which accompanied the provocative congregation.
For the first time, two foreign missions have commented on a pre-election security occurrence and warned about consequences should trouble-making politicians persist in their crooked ways.
The US State Department has added its voice to that of its mission in Accra, and this underscores the fact that the radar of the international community is already on Ghana.
Need the President and his team, especially his security apparatus, be reminded about keeping the peace and to avoid provocative actions that can derail the forthcoming polls?
Ghana has come a long way from 6th March 1957, the date it severed its umbilical cord from her colonial masters.
Politicians at the helm of affairs should know better that violence and attempts at circumventing the will of the people do not attract positive dividends.
The international community, especially the US and EU, pick bills for peacekeeping missions and the hosting of conferences towards the restoration of order and so their concern about the senseless action is justifiable.
We have heard the President querying the Nima Police and for that matter the Police administration by extension, for not acting early enough to nip the emerging trouble in the bud.
We do not find sincerity in his reaction but rather detect a ploy to dissociate himself from the disorder in the eyes of the international community, especially the US and UK.
The missions know better the political situation and who is seeking to breach security with a view to garnering undue advantage at the polls.
We understand why some politicians would prefer a breakdown of law and order and why the inappropriate situation would inure to their interest even if the country suffers from the tendentious breach.
The President’s query should have come before the international backlash.
Then we would have seen in him as a President who can apportion blame without fear or favour.
He should have condemned the party hoodlums and the provocation, which was what assembling at the gate of Nana Addo’s house entailed, instead of using the Police as the scapegoat even if they too have been unprofessional anyway.
For the information of the President, the Nima Police were obviously confused as to what to do, realizing that NDC supporters at the centre of the storm are largely above the law.
There is an unwritten convention now in the system that such aberrations should not be dealt with if they are committed by NDC supporters, especially when they don their party colours. That is exactly how come no arrest was neither made nor would be made.
We hear the Police are demanding of the media to report the truth. If only they could learn to speak the truth too and deal with all with the same standard, it would go a long way in winning the trust of the people. We would continue to report the unprofessional conduct of the police always.
The man in Asutifi South, who boasted of killing always, is still walking about a free man. That is what we are talking about. Are we lying?
The President should go beyond remarking about the inaction of the Police and how this nearly brought national security to the brink by giving the law enforcement agency the free hand to discharge their mandate.