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Opinions of Monday, 12 August 2013

Columnist: Innocent, Ivan Kyei

Taming The Dogs

" Nana Kyei's Take


Politics of insinuations, casting of sneer at integrity, trading in
derogatory remarks coupled with the use of invectives in addressing
authorities seemed to be out of regulations in the current line of
politicking in Ghana. Conceivably these happenings have crushed the moral
fabrics of our society and the conspicuous leakages into the moral
corridors are quite perceptible.

In the sheer absence of intimidation,the court's intervention to block
these leakages by citing examples of such kind for contempt following
unsavory and derogatory remarks which seek to impune the integrity and hold
the authority of the court to ransom is presumably a positive attempt to
avert the ugly noises detrimental to court procedure.
Although this exercise is aimed at curtailing the over-sprouting tension in
the political atmosphere and avert the possibility of subverting the
authority of the court, but to some politicians the predilections and
biases are quite obvious . It's rather no surprise to notice the kind of
sharp criticisms emanating from both experts of the law and human rights
activists. It is therefore convincing to cogitate in affirmation that this
move has indeed placed uncultured and unregulated political noises into
checks, keeping the unspoken corollaries under keys and locks.
The looming threat of impunity and sheer disregard for the court's
authority ahead of the impending declaration of the election petition are
not imperceptible to the discovery of the panel of judges adjudicating the
petition which seeks to decide the fate of the president and would
therefore go every length to cure such a mischief in anyway necessary
provided their actions are not in conflict with the fundamental laws of the
land.
After hauling Sammy Awuku, the deputy communications director of the
opposition NPP to answer contempt charges coupled with imprisonment of two
others, the warning message of the court seemed to have gone down deeper
with every Ghanaian except two,Sir John and Hopeson Adorye who are
currently undergoing a mental marathon about the kind of responses likely
to extricate them from being thrown into jail.The two are implicated in a
very complicated situation with the law as all Ghanaians focus on their
preparedness to face the Supreme Court of the land on Wednesday to answer
contempt charges following their irresponsible statements made which risked
plunging the nation into the state of anarchy. The several warnings of the
court and the subsequent incarceration of Ken Kuranchie and Stephen Atubiga
had failed to grant the two a sense of perspective.

In larger spectrum, looking at how the executive arm which is the most
powerful arm of government with all the state machineries at its disposal
is often exposed to massive vilifications on flippant issues for
unjustifiable politically motivated reasons, I think it's only a
pre-emptive measure occasioned by the court to neutralised any attempt to
defile and subdue its authority in the face of these happenings. We have
longed to sustain peace but the mundane existence this exercise provides
could not hold a candle to the passion of peace we've been seeking until we
completely become devoid of selfishness of any kind.
We now find ourselves in a stage where politics is peddled on tribal lines,
unjustifiable accusations, blame games, double standards, playing of
charades and obsession with politics of robbery.These are few of the many
challenges bedevilling us and the nation is obviously crumbling gradually
under the weight of these setbacks.Unfortunately the institutions
responsible for clamping these unfamiliar culture of disrespecting the
authority of the state have been rendered incapacitated by political
interest which stands to profit should the entire venture of peace is
thrown in shambles.
After bastardizing all the state institutions the remaining viable
institution powered by the constitution to regulate comments on sensitive
issues bothering on national security is the court, the court would not
risk sacrificing its powers for political considerations and so therefore
any case before the court for judicial considerations fans around the
threat of contempt of court and being unhampered by the bureaucratic chain
of commands, the court is in a better position in ensuring the sustenance
of peace at any critical juncture even if takes to push the dogs behind
bars by cracking the whips.
Ghana, a nation which was once anticipated as surviving on a borrowed time
could now raise her head in a pool of deafening hope following the
conscientious efforts by the Supreme Court to hold the flame of authority
to stabilise the nation without creating least opportunity for war mongers
who fervently wish to use the nation as a bargaining chip in propagating
their selfish motives.
There is an exponential rise in group interest and therefore the clearance
needed to build national interest is naturally revoked.
We must rally behind the crusade being embarked on by the Supreme Court in
restoring the sovereignty of the state and in realising this, dispassionate
collaboration from all stakeholders are needed for a greater investment.
Letting go all the pretexts and subterfuge, we can finally admit the truth
that the nuance of politics may elude us but there is something we should
be aware of "the authority of the state must never be tampered with" else
we would risk doing an irreparable damage to the foundation of our
existence".
It is my fervent wish the constitution is subjected to immediate amendment
to block any attempt which seeks to disrespect the authority of the state
especially that of the president whose veneration is kept in the state of
desultory. Genuine criticisms are quite appropriate for a better course of
development not insults. The Bible is my witness.

From: Ivan Kyei Innocent / nanakyei81@gmail.com
/0206262717