Rein in members, GPRTU
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It appears they are achieving their aim. The next time we heard of another protest against bad roads, it was from some residents of Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region. This time around it was very violent leaving one person dead, many injured and properties destroyed by the angry protestors.
Just when we were about to recover from the actions of the Ashaiman protestors, presto, the drivers of Asamankese also decided to park their vehicles in protest against bad conditions of roads in the area.
The right to lawful assembly to voice out our frustrations against certain policies of the government and developments in the society is guaranteed by the Fourth Republican Constitution. But in upholding our rights, it is also very important for all to be mindful of their responsibilities and obligations.
Ghanaians tend to be enjoying the freedom enshrined in our Constitution. However, in their rush to enjoy those rights they forget that under the same dispensation they must be mindful of the rights of others otherwise there is bound to be conflict and we may descend into a state of nature.
Democratic governance, with all its attractions, thrives when the people respect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law and promote civil liberties.
In all these protests by drivers and the youth against the poor conditions of roads, we wonder whether they satisfied the conditions of the Public Order Act.
We are not in doubt that the government ought to bridge the infrastructural gaps to enable the economic players to contribute their quota to nation building.
Eyewitnesses and residents in areas where the drivers have taken to the streets attest to the poor nature of the road network making road transport a nightmarish experience.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic appeals to the government, even when the ends are competing for the limited means, to endeavour to provide for the needs of the people.
The conditions of the road from Suhum to Asamankese, Asamankese through Adeiso to Nsawam, Asamankese to Kade and Asamankese to Akroso are in very deplorable conditions and the earlier they are fixed the better it will be for national economic integration and the equitable sharing of the national cake.
The drivers plying these roads are doing well by subjecting their vehicles and their health to major risks, but they should not disturb their positive contributions to the transport industry by indulging in an illegality.
Multi-party democracy provides the platform for individuals and groups to exercise their rights in an atmosphere of freedom but within the confines of the law.
The Daily Graphic has said before that the way protestors are catching the security apparatus on the wrong foot indicates a breakdown of the intelligence network.
In the normal intelligence operations, personnel of the security agencies should have been proactive to pick the signals for potential protests so that the authorities can take steps to prevent them.
The various protests have disrupted economic activities in those local communities and beyond and we urge the security agencies to step up their actions to prevent the breakdown of law and order by these unauthorised actions.
The Daily Graphic will defend individual liberties but not lawlessness as no country can develop on the basis of indisciplined behaviour.
We think we have had enough of these violent protests for which the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) must rein in its members to be law-abiding.
Let us enjoy the liberties associated with the present democratic dispensation but we must be mindful of the limitations of our rights under the Constitution.
Daily Graphic/Ghana