All because the winner wins too much
By Enimil Ashon
They know the system, our politicians! They know that less than 24 hours after elections, the UN, AU and other observer groups will issue a statement announcing that “there were a few unfortunate cases of electoral malpractices and pockets of violence but on the whole, the elections were free and fair”. They also know that “the average Ghanaian abhors the sight of blood”.
Knowing that, they would, before and during the elections, have succeeded in instilling fear in the citizenry to the point where truly blood-fearing Ghanaians in their opponents’ strongholds did not come out to vote in anticipation of violence.
After six election cycles, these truly blood fearing Ghanaians in the villages have learned not to trust the politician’s commitment to peace “before, during and after” the presidential and general elections. On not a single occasion have any of the leaders been heard or quoted condemning perpetrators of violence who work for them.
They know us. They know that at the end of the day, Ghanaians would come out to say “Onnye hwee. Fama Nyame”. The Christian Council, the Chief Imam, the Peace Council and prominent chiefs would call press conferences to appeal for calm” and the candidate who stole his/her way into power rules and reigns
The thugs and macho-men are now even more emboldened. They are assured that in case of death or permanent disability, there is a HEROES FUND set up by the employers (i.e. the political parties) for the purpose.
Why do they do it? Simple: they know that their reward is not in heaven: it is, as Jimmy Cliff sang, “right here on earth”. Soon, they would control toilets; they would be given tricycles for waste collection; they would win sole-sourced contracts, whether they qualify or not.
In the unlikely event that they get arrested by an over-zealous Corporal or Sergeant, they know that the worst thing that can happen to them is a few hours in police cells: the employers, once in power, would order their release through the incumbent IGP.
In this selective application of the law for the benefit of party in power lies the seed of violence, and more violence. At the NPP headquarters in 2015, those criminals brandishing machetes and guns were arrested but released without a charge. At Odododiodoo in 2012, at Chereponi during the 2009 by-election and at Akwatia, the NDC men, some caught on video camera, and still pictures published in the print media, have still not been arrested for acts including murder.
Today, there is not a single Ghanaian who does not have the impression that the police are unable to apply the law to a certain category of people, mostly hoodlums belonging to the party in power. This is the single most unfortunate act which, more than any other cause, is breeding political murderers. I pray to my God every day that a time should come when the son, nephew or beloved cousin of an IGP would be caught in the cross-fire of political violence or hit by stray bullet fired from the gun of a political murderer.
These evil minded people, one of whom has openly confessed on radio, are the people who have murdered the sleep of Ghanaians. For the two years preceding elections, Ghanaians go to bed with their hearts in their mouth.
The thugs are at the lowest rung. Immediately above them are the “operational commanders”, the party officials, many of them “God-fearing” church/mosque goers. They are Ghana’s 4th Republic replicas of the German 3rd Reich mastros of evil, including Otto Adolf Eichmanns, noted for his role in the Holocaust and Joseph Goebels, the master propagandist. They are highly educated, very intelligent able organizers, skilled in the art of plotting evil, tele-guiding violence and very articulate spokespersons or party communicators. The majority of these evil-minded monsters whom our nation tolerates, operate behind the scenes. Whenever violent clashes break out, with blood oozing and bones breaking, they are on the phone at party headquarters.
Why do they do it? It is because unless the 1992 Constitution is changed, their Presidential candidate will soon own and control the world. In this ‘Winner takes all’ system, there is nothing the President of Ghana cannot give to his “good and faithful servants”. These are the ones who will occupy juicy seats as CEOs of state institutions, MMDCEs, Ambassadors,
Someone noted the other day that because of elections, Ghanaians are no longer one people with one destiny but rather ”we in power” and “those in opposition”. Elections have become a contest for national resources, and all means, including (and especially) violence are employed to win political power irrespective of the consequences.
Remember Kenya. In the run-up to the 2007 elections, Kenyans stocked up on staples like flour, rice, bread in case riots broke out again. The nightmare Kenya went through because of disputed elections is still unprecedented in this otherwise peaceful East African country when machete-wielding mobs marauded around the Kenya, hacking rival tribes to death and burning women and children alive. More than 1,300 people died and 600,000 people were displaced in the violence.
I am on the side of those who think that ours is a system in which the winner wins too much. I agree with E.J. Ogendoorn, Deputy Director (Africa) of the International Crisis Group when he observes that “in some countries, you either win or you’re out in the wilderness.”
