Let Eid principles keep Ghanaians together
After many years of groping in the dark experimenting for an appropriate system of government, our dear country finally decided to embark on the path of democracy in 1992.
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That decision was taken purely out of the fatigue that engulfed the totality of Ghanaians who remained unsure of what the next day would bring because of the uncertainty surrounding the governance structure.
The nation, at that point in time, decided, with a collective voice, that enough was enough, leading to the formation of the Consultative Assembly that drafted what is now the Fourth Republican Constitution.
One cardinal lesson learnt from the events that led to the democratisation of our country is that where the will and the voice of the ordinary person remain constant and unwavering in their demand, the powers of state and other allied interests cannot but acquiesce to the bidding of the people.
Thus the first election under the Fourth Republic successfully took place, ushering in a new era of freedoms.
Twenty-four years on, we have successfully undertaken six credible elections with smooth transitions of power from one political party to another or from one leader to another.
However, it has been the case that with every election, there appears to be so much anxiety, with fears being expressed that something untoward would happen.
But election after election, that feeling of apprehension always abates, even though there have been some skirmishes in some flashpoints across the country.
One key and uncompromising feature of a democratic regime is the ability to hold elections in a manner that is reflective of the views and aspirations of the people.
Fellowing from that therefore, the choice of leaders must not be a matter of life and death but the expression of the desires of every voter in voting for a particular candidate.
Much as everyone would wish that his or her dream candidate wins, the collective voice of the people, said to be the voice of God, will always reign supreme, and when that happens, that decision must be respected by all.
The Daily Graphic yesterday made the call that the sacrifices of the Eid should translate into peaceful elections, a view that has been re-echoed by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who called on all the flag bearers not to forget that they represented large communities, hence the need to speak well of themselves and refrain from hurling insults at one another.
He also urged all Ghanaians, especially Muslims, to prove to the world that Islam did not only stand for peace but also for justice, love and fair play.
Also, President John Dramani Mahama urged Ghanaians to maintain the peace, so that the image the country had carved for itself as a peaceful democratic enclave would be protected.
Here in Ghana, our strength lies in our diversity, resilience and penchant for peaceful co-existence and that is the reason we cannot afford to allow any political party to hold our peace and stability to ransom.
Ghana is our only home; we have none other. We should, therefore, be guided by examples from the sub-region where there are conflicts, poverty and diseases not because nature willed it so but because tolerance, respect for the rule of law and common sense have been relegated to the background in the determination of national priorities.
Once again, Happy Eid-ul-Adha to all our Muslim brothers and sisters. It is our hope that everybody shared in the joy of the celebration, regardless of our religious persuasions.
