The broad daylight shooting incident at the office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as reported in the media yesterday was worrying.
The suggestion that there are many firearms in the hands of non-state actors especially, those with inclination to political parties with violence in their DNAs, is even more disturbing. Only a spark is needed for matters to get out of hand.
Such an uncivilised approach to expressing disagreement is not the way to go at all. It is unfortunate that this attitude of shooting to express disagreement is gaining root in our political space. If we can do this within our political groupings, it can only be imagined when such disagreements are inter-party.
No political party should exhibit this trait of violence because, it only sends our democratic ranking several notches down.
The seeming picture of a civil democratic atmosphere in the country is but a veneer. There are many evil-minded persons who are ready to pull the trigger to settle scores within and without their political parties.
Many years after independence and military dictatorships including a period of murders and abductions in the name of a revolution, we should know better not to dabble in such senseless disrespect for the law.
We wish to reiterate that crimes are crimes no matter those at the centre of such breaches. The tendency to describe some criminal activities such as unfolded in Tamale as political and therefore treated with kid’s gloves, is untenable and therefore damnable.
When some leaders describe gloatingly their parties as violent, the fear is that this inappropriate remark only emboldens the irresponsible ones in their ranks to think that unruly and violent conduct is a norm in politics.
It is regrettable when law enforcement officers make arrests and prefer charges against law breakers, they come under maximum pressure to let go the cases. This way, law enforcement officers develop cold feet towards so-called crimes committed by party boys.
All political parties should resolve not to allow violence and disregard for institutions of State such as those in charge of law enforcement to prevail.
A 2022 Ghana still exhibiting crude and violent tactics does not suggest she has grown from the day when women were flogged in the street and Molotov cocktails were the preferred means of settling scores.
The leadership of the NDC should not only condemn the violence, it should allow the Police to deal with the misconduct as the law prescribes.