Advertisement

Kobby Asmah
Kobby Asmah

Let’s heal the wounds of division, mistrust at Easter

In a couple of days, Christians across the country and the world will celebrate Easter, a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith.

Easter has come to symbolise peace and love to all mankind. Through his death, it is the belief of Christians that Jesus Christ cleansed the sins of all mankind who believed in him and renewed their lives.

All in the name of Easter, from next Friday to Sunday, Christians throughout the world will celebrate and mark this important religious activity at their various churches. In Ghana, it will be climaxed with beach parties and merrymaking on Monday.

Challenges of political vigilantism

However in Ghana, this year’s festivity is being observed at a time the country is experiencing challenges at the political front.
As a nation, we are not bonding well, politically, for the rebuilding of the economy and the nation at large.

There are challenges of political vigilantism and its associated acts of impunity, violence and vengeance as well as intemperate language, are threatening the very peaceful fabric of the Fourth Republican dispensation.

There is also the issue of indiscipline in the society, high crime levels, disrespect for the elderly, bribery and corruption, indecent and dishonest behaviour.

Though national efforts are being made to permanently disband the worrying phenomenon of political vigilantism and make the growth of it unattractive, it will not be out of place if the message of Easter helps to heal the wounds of division and mistrust in the country’s body politics.

Carnage on roads

For many people, travelling during Easter also comes with it fears; fear of road accidents which over the years increases during Easter. Impatient drivers, carelessness, speeding and many other disrespect for road traffic regulations result in the death of many.

Over the last few years, there have been more than 20 fatal road accidents on the Kintampo-Tamale road. The two goriest ones resulted in the death of more than 130 people recently.

The first one was on February 17, 2019 when at least 71 people died after a Metro Mass bus collided with a truck carrying tomatoes on the highway.

In the case of the second accident on March 22, 2019, about 60 people died, including two drivers, while 53 others were injured when two buses collided at Amoma Nkwanta on the Techiman-Kintampo highway in the Kintampo South District at 1.40 a.m.

Most of these accidents were recorded in the night or at dawn where visibility on the roads is poor and involved buses and trucks.

Another road notorious for accidents is the Kasoa-Cape Coast Road where footprints of accidents are posted on signage to deter the public but to no avail.

Between November 2018 and March 2019 at least 65 people have lost their lives on this road making it one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Road traffic regulations

During this festive season, drivers in particular and the travelling public must endeavour to observe all road traffic regulations to minimise if not completely eliminate road accidents.

Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after crucifixion and it will be most out of place if lives are lost in such tragic manner through fatal road accidents.

With Easter around the corner, it should give us the reassurance that we are able to overcome every challenge that has come to symbolise death to our people.

As a nation, we must and can end the senseless carnage on our roads, eradicate poverty and overcome the scourge of sickness.

Easter on the mountains

Again, all in the name of Easter, people will gather at the Kwahu mountains to celebrate the occasion. On parade will be all kinds of moral ills.

In Kwahu, some people will just want to give fun another chance, and will try very hard to do the unimaginable. There is also the issue of wanton destruction of the environment through acts of “galamsey”.

We can and must put an end to the wanton destruction of our environment.

As the spirit of the Easter Season provides the basis for profound reflection for all Christians and the Church of Christ, so it must equally be relevant to us as a nation.

It is time to turn our backs to all the ills that tend to delay the progress of the country.

Christ’s message of peace and love should remind not only Christians but non-Christians of the need to be ambassadors of peace, love and reconciliation at all times.

To conclude, the greeting “Peace be with you”, was pronounced three times by the Risen Christ in the passage John 20:19-29. It will therefore not be out of place if I share in that sentiment: “Peace be with you,” always.

email; [email protected]

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |