We just finished perusing the entire Articles of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution and we did not find any paragraph that sanctions the “merciless beating” of any bonafide citizen of Ghana. And yet the Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), an off shoot of the Danquah, Busia and Dombo liberal political discourse is threatening just that.
This is what Nana Obiri Boahen said in an interview with Dadi 101.1FM: “Stay home if you don’t agree to the compilation of the new register because anyone who tries to disrupt the exercise will be beaten. We will beat you mercilessly. What happened in Ayawaso is just a tip of the iceberg.”
“Beat you mercilessly”? Who gave you the mandate? Do you “beat” your own children “mercilessly” at home when they disobey your instructions? Under what provisions of the law are you mandated to “beat any citizen of Ghana mercilessly”? Nana Obiri Boahen, Ghana is certainly not a “SHITHOLE” country. In civilized countries, you, Nana Obiri Boahen cannot beat your own children “Mercilessly”.
To threaten violence on the citizens of your own nation, no matter the gravity of the offence they commit is the hallmark of criminally minded politicians. And that is why we are confidently sure that Dr Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah will disagree with you; Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia will likewise disagree with you; Chief Simon Diedong Dombo will also most certainly disagree with your comments. These three stalwarts of the Ghanaian political landscape should be turning in their graves today and wondering what has become of the foundation they laid for the political maturity of their dear nation, Ghana.
Leaders who have a love for their nation do not spit out fiery language that will inflame the political temperature in their countries especially in election years.
Ghana, by all indications has laws and regulations spelt out under its Criminal Code and anyone breaking the law should be dealt with by the Courts. The law does not mandate any poorly educated lawyer or politician for that matter to threaten violence against any of its citizens.
Nana Obiri Boahen, when, God forbid, Ghana burns, will you pack your bag and baggage and leave her shores, or will you remain in the country and try to quench the flames? As a lawyer, you should know better.
Perhaps it is important for you in particular and Ghanaians in general to realise that the international community is today fed up with failed states – look at Somalia, look at Syria fifteen years now and the hostilities still rages on; thousands of men, women and children have been rendered homeless. Is that what Nana Obiri Boahen is praying for his country, Ghana, as one of the leaders of the ruling party?
As Deputy Secretary General of your party, the NPP, are you also mandated to speak for the Electoral Commission? You are exactly the type of persons His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II warned Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to be wary of when he paid a courtesy call on Otumfuo soon after winning the election.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has an agenda to propel the country towards the path of progress and prosperity for all its citizens and comments such as the one attributed to you run counter to the President’s agenda. Do not derail the President’s agenda for Ghana with such stupid and unguarded statements.
Politicians in Ghana, irrespective of which political party they belong to, should take note that the world is watching. Any of you who encourage violence in the country will be held to account. A Rwandan politician has just been apprehended in France a quarter of a century after committing his crimes. That goes to show all of you that you better behave. Such loose talks likely to inflame passions and result in violence will be documented and they will be visited on you one day.
It looks as if Nana Obiri Boahen never learns his lessons: it seems as if Nana Obiri Boahen is a perpetual troublemaker. You said this sometime in 2018 when you accused the presidency of having donated about GHc50 billion towards the party’s 2017 National Annual Delegates Conference held in Cape Coast in the Central Region.
“Respectfully, I am by this letter expressing my profound apology to the President, the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, the Steering Committee, the National Executives, Council of Elders, the National Executive Committee, the National Council of the New Patriotic Party and every member of the New Patriotic Party for my indication.”
“I have learnt much lessons from this unfortunate incident, from this heavily edited, secretly recorded and intentionally mutilated audio recording or cassette; I vow not to find myself under such circumstances again. My loyalty and commitment with/to the New Patriotic Party shall ever continue to be resolute and firm. ‘To err is human, and to forgive is divine’ says the sages,”
As a lawyer, keep to the norms and ethics of the learned profession and stop talking like a drunken hooligan even if you are currently the Deputy Secretary General of the ruling New Patriotic Party in Ghana.