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I choose peace over democracy
Nobody would ever think that the smallest attempt to cause civil disorder could gain any momentum in the capital towns of a country that has gained recognition as the champion of civil rights and order in the world.
In fact, I personally believe that it wouldn’t even cross the mind of anyone who has travelled to the seat of the Government of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., that an attempt to thwart and prevent the application of democracy would work.
But all that happened because one person, I mean just one influential leader, decided to incite his followers over a belief that their democratic rights had been abused and compromised.
The amenities and fruits of the democratic system, and the rights and privileges of the citizens of America are so cherished and guarded by almost every segment of American society that, “no one dares to play with any of the above,” whether in politics or just in social and communal discourse.
Beyond all that, the good people of the United States of America have given priority to peace in their homeland over their cherished democratic system.
This is evident in the handling of the actions of the former president, Donald Trump. I am simply referring to the famous insurrection of 2021 in the United States of America.
Nothing equates to the loss of a single life and peace of the people—not even the full gains of democracy over the rule of law and peace.
Barely a week ago, I read on Ghanaweb.com a statement purportedly made by a former diplomat and astute politician that “Ghana would become like Gaza or Ukraine if the electoral commission didn’t allow the electoral register to be audited forensically.”
I equate the above ill-fated and venomous statement to the one
President Trump made to his followers that incited them to overturn the election results in his favour.
In a small country like Ghana, with a population of a little over 35 million people, we cannot afford to lose our sight and grip on the wheels as we strive to maintain our position and commitment as the most peaceful country and the beacon of democracy in the sub-Saharan region.
In our drive and quest to achieve real holistic peace that encompasses total human security—which also invites and accommodates good governance, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of the people—we can decide to do away with and sacrifice the type of democracy that Ghana and several African countries are practicing, for peace.
As we hypocritically rain and shower praises and blessings on President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, we are promoting his style of governance and system of living and leadership. Certainly, nobody can assert that our revered President Kagame is really practicing the type of democracy that we are observing and applying here in Ghana today, as we allow some powerful influencers to dictate to us how to apply the principles of leadership and governance in our country.
In Nicaragua, a nice and beautiful country that has now become a transit point to the United States or Canada, I enjoyed my brief stay. My observation in Nicaragua is that the type of democracy President Ortega is running is no different from Rwanda, except that Nicaragua has serious human rights issues of concern to all.
In 2016, President Ortega nominated his wife as vice president of the Republic, and the party consented, eventually winning the elections. What a wonderful country.
Let’s face the facts—everyone wants to share happy moments with loved ones. I would not encourage this anywhere, although I see no harm if the wife or family member is qualified.
My point is that “whatever system of governance Rwanda and Nicaragua are administering in their countries, they are proportionally trying to deliver for their people, and most of all, they have brought about peace and stability in their countries.”
I am in no way advancing any theory or argument for Ghana to follow suit, but I am seriously advocating for us to “choose peace and stability in Ghana at the expense of a democracy that ruins our peace.”
Any good leader can deliver for his people without democracy.
The late Colonel Gaddafi—may his soul rest in peace—delivered to his people beyond doubt, and presently, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Bin Salman, whom I admire so much, is delivering to his people beyond doubt. In the two regimes above (Libya and Saudi Arabia), no single principle or element of democracy is fully respected.
As I write this article, about 600 people have been reported killed by terrorists in our neighbouring country, Burkina Faso. Our families in Burkina, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria tell us of the fear and instability they feel anytime they hear the sound of fireworks or anything that resembles gunfire.
It is for this reason that I am urging all peace-loving Ghanaians and everyone living in Ghana to:
- Choose peace over the type of democracy that allows us to destroy the very peaceful ambience, stability, religious and traditional tolerance, and coexistence that we have built and maintained for decades.
- Try, in our own communities beginning at home, to establish a system where justice is cherished and respected above all.
- Help, encourage, and collaborate with law enforcement officers to be professional in their duties, impartial, and uphold the constitution of the Republic without fear or favour.
- Adopt as a way of life, and instil in the minds and lifestyles of children, the principles of fairness, kindness, love, unity, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, compassion, and care for one another.
In my religious tradition, Islam encourages us to take care of one another, love your neighbour as yourself, feed and clothe the poor and needy, accommodate the orphans, and love them. Be respectful to the elderly and merciful to the young. Give priority to mothers when it comes to obedience and kindness, above fathers.
By Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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