Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia
Those who aspire to lead this country must be wary about the implications of what they say.
Some remarks define their sources; listeners are able to tell the quality of persons they are listening to.
Concerted efforts have been made over the years since independence to ensure that Ghana remains one geopolitical entity bound by a common destiny.
Adequate precautions have been taken by crafters of the constitution to obviate divisiveness on the basis of faith or tribe.
Unfortunately, so many years after independence, we appear to have some politicians treading this dangerous tangent.
Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, fought a civil war in the distant past to keep the country together.
Let us therefore not take things for granted and spew out negative opinions as we seek the nod of the people, especially when these are not steeped in facts and verifiable data.
Last week, the issue of religious and tribal bigotry led the media chart following what one of the contestants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer race reportedly said which, as it imputed, touched on this divisiveness.
The backlash was heated, a testament that most Ghanaians abhor faith and tribal bigotry and would rather their leaders avoid that path.
Those who suffered the fallouts from embarking on this tangent in other jurisdictions outside our frontiers would advise that we desist from such reckless and unproductive statements.
Those whose remarks or actions seek to divide us as a people should be shunned because it shows that they are unfit to be our leaders.
Let us continue to consider those things which unite us and enhance them rather than divide us.
We have observed the efforts by the source of the recent divisive remarks to undo the fallouts, and hope it would calm the troubled tempers.
People have expressed surprises at the remarks because of their earlier positive impressions about the man.
Impressions, when they suffer such dents, are difficult if not impossible to redeem.
The leadership of the two dominant political parties should know that their actions are being watched by the population.
Actions which cause the kind of fallouts which triggered this commentary do not cast those who want to lead as qualified to do so.
As political parties from which the leadership of the country is chosen during elections, candour and responsible behaviour should be the cornerstone of such persons.
As soldiers enforce the law in troubled Bawku towards restoring peace and order in this part of the country, the last thing a politician should do is pass comments which have the tendency to bring the subject to the front burner and to make the task of the law enforcers difficult.
We can do better by denying fuel to an already inflamed situation.
Although it was disappointing to hear those unfortunate remarks, we pray that it would not be repeated as we continue to chart a new path in our democratic journey.
Our democracy requires adequate nurturing from all Ghanaians regardless of their faith and tribal persuasions.