Violence must not force ministerial appointment
It is now public knowledge that a group of unidentified National Democratic Congress (NDC) youths in Bole have burned vehicle tyres in front of President John Dramani Mahama’s father’s residence to protest their displeasure over the President’s failure so far in nominating the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole-Bamboi, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, for any ministerial appointment.
Though Alhaji Sulemana has appealed to the youth and people of the constituency to be calm, his appeal cannot reverse the harm done.
So far, the unbridled violence alleged NDC supporters have been unleashing on innocent people, for that matter, innocent Ghanaians, is despicable.
But why does it appear that no one wants to bring these people, who can rightly be described as hooligans, to book?
Considering only the history of the country’s Fourth Republic dispensation, one can say that cases of hooliganism have always followed NDC’s electoral victory since 2008, when Professor JEA Mills won the presidential election.
There were cases of seizure of tender documents, invasion of government buildings and vandalisation of public property, as well as chasing out certain public officials out of office among other acts that lacked civility.
Probably, what was unexpected was the declaration or directive by an NDC regional chairman that by virtue of his position, he had become the head of his region and so all civil and public servants should report to him.
No one reprimanded him and neither were those who carried out acts of violence brought to book.
In 2012, because the NDC had retained power, the seizure of government documents, vandalisation of public property and chasing of public workers did not happen.
This, obviously, was because the NDC supporters considered the fact that their people were in charge of the system and so their harassment was needless.
However, there were agitations over ministerial and other appointments like the positions of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
One such situations on record was the violence carried out by NDC supporters in the Tamale South Constituency, who were aggrieved that their MP, Haruna Iddrisu, had not been offered ministerial appointment by President Mahama in his first term in office.
In the end, he was made the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The Ghanaian Times thinks that should have taught the whole nation a lesson of patience and restraint when it comes to such political appointments, yet Bole youths have called the bluff of everyone.
Probably, they think if they sort of repeat the 2013 Tamale South incident in their domain, President Mahama would be forced to nominate Alhaji Sulemana for ministerial appointment.
Who knows if Haruna had been pencilled for appointment before the violence in his constituency?
Let the Bole youths get it that their action can rather deny their MP any ministerial post because it would then appear, judging from the Haruna case, that violence and agitations from certain people can force presidents to make unintended appointments.
This is not good for our democracy because the 1992 Constitution provides for the number of ministers that can be chosen from Parliament.
Besides, the President has the prerogative to choose the calibre of people he wishes to work with.
On that note, The Ghanaian Times appeals that Parliament should enact a specific legislation that criminalise electoral violence and similar acts like violence over appointments.
That way, the country can safeguard its democracy and also save future presidents the pressure to do unintended appointments.