Refrain from explosive language - Judge to Politicians

A Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice George K. Acquah, has cautioned politicians against making pronouncements that might spur on ambitious military adventurers to attempt to overthrow the government.

"Politicians must endeavour to refrain from inflammatory language likely to destabilise this country and recognise that no government can achieve absolute perfection.

“What is required is maturity in the criticism of government and tolerance in our relationship with each other," he stated.

Mr Justice Acquah was at the weekend addressing a durbar of military personnel at the Tema Naval Base on the theme, "Promoting discipline and the rule of law in our Ghanaian society."

It was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as part of this year’s Constitution Week celebration, which started on April 28 and officially ended on May 4.

Mr Justice Acquah noted that the lifestyle and utterances of politicians could go a long way in preserving the country's fledgling democracy and to promote the rule of law.

"This country thrives on multi-party democracy, and it is important that politicians recognise this in governance," he added.

He said it was not healthy for political parties to make wild and unfounded allegations against their opponents.

Mr Justice Acquah said the nation and the individual would enjoy peace and security, if the government and state institutions uphold the virtues for which Ghanaians have chosen constitutional democracy.

He reminded the government that the power to govern emanated from the people, and it should be exercised positively, fairly and in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and other laws of the land.

"There must be an end to armed interventions in the governance of this nation; no individual or group of persons have a right to rule this nation through force," he stated.

The judge noted that the people wield the power to elect their government and are, therefore, determined to resist unconstitutional interruption, adding that this has affected the socio-economic development of the country. He said the military could play a crucial role in sustaining discipline and the rule of law.

"By your training, expertise and competence, you are better placed to resist any adventurer from attempting to over throw this Constitution," he told the aoldiers.

Mr Justice Acquah reminded military personnel that a distinctive feature of the institution they belong to is its high sense of discipline, which should urge them to protect the Constitution.

Mr Larry Bimi, the NCCE Chairman, said the commission would ensure that the Constitution becomes a living document embossed on the minds and hearts of the people for the attainment of democracy and good governance in Ghana. "Ghanaians need to develop the culture of democracy, the courage to resist violation of their human rights and the tenacity to resist dictatorship of all forms and, more particularly and fundamentally any overthrow or attempted overthrow of government," he stated.