Delegates are listening to all manner of rhetoric from the flagbearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
While some are well-mannered in their presentations, others are hawkish; their demeanour pointing at unnecessary brinkmanship that cannot be acceptable.
The stakes, it appears, have never been higher. In the run-up to the D-Day, desperation is setting in and, therefore, responsible for the charged ambience and unguarded rhetoric.
The motley of admonitions which were served to calm tempers have not altered the tempo.
A few days ago, one of the aspirants while talking via zoom to delegates made inappropriate remarks about a colleague contestant, the former Vice President of the Republic. It was so outlandish it trended on both social and traditional media.
According to Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the former Vice President did not speak the truth when he said the late Prof. Adu Boahen was not given a second chance because of ill-health. This, he said, does not make him fit to vie for the flagbearership.
The Chairman of the NPP in the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, yesterday clarified the matter when he said, “I said it. It was not the former Vice President”. Let us all process this outcome and make our individual judgment. Doesn’t the former Vice President deserve an apology from his opponent?
To describe a colleague contestant who held the position of Vice President as a liar should not attract plaudits. It does not speak well of a person making such a categorical remark, more so when both persons belong to the same political grouping.
As we pointed out sometime ago, an assortment of factors determine integrity.
Those who seek to lead must espouse the qualities of leadership among which attributes is avoiding harsh or intemperate language and indulging in the peddling of untruths, especially to malign others.
The temperature in the two dominant political parties reflect the quality of democracy being practiced in the country inter alia. It is for this reason that we demand decorum in the manner in which the contenders conduct themselves on the public space.
Unfortunately, such determinants are observed over time and not at the eleventh hour when delegates have already made up their minds.
The former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is one of the finest gentlemen on the political space in the country.
We condemn any attempt to smear his integrity with unfounded allegations in the name of seeking the nod of delegates ahead of an internal election. He does not deserve such descent into the gutter.
Addressing delegates about what we can offer them, the party and the country at large so they vote for us, is what contenders should concentrate on; personal vendetta as being witnessed does not speak well about the origins of such indecorous language.
Let us all contribute towards the building of a decent democracy pillared on truth, integrity and decorum.
The proclivity to use vitriolic against our opponents, especially when these are anchored on mendacity, does not advance the positive cause of democracy.
In a digitised ambience in which the internet is laden with stored remarks of politicians and others, measurement of the quality of characters through remarks is a mere walk in the park.
Those whose stewardship, when they held public office, witnessed the advancement of the country and whose vision led to where we are today are known by all. Posterity will judge all.
While we welcome the peace pact to be signed by the aspirants, we have little confidence that this would change anything. The leopard’s spots will remain its prominent feature come what may.