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The rival supporters engaged in taunts of “JM TWASO” or “JM TOASO,” to indicate their opposition or support for the President as we go into the polls on December 7
The rival supporters engaged in taunts of “JM TWASO” or “JM TOASO,” to indicate their opposition or support for the President as we go into the polls on December 7

We must be tolerant

Set peace of mind as your highest goal and organise yourself around it. — Brian Tracy.

At the one week observation of the death of the Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Serwaa Kobi Ampem at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace, there were reports that supporters of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) and National Democratic Congress(NDC) engaged in some diatribe. The rival supporters were said to have engaged in taunts of “JM TWASO” or “JM TOASO,” to indicate their opposition or support for the President as we go into the polls on December 7.  Accounts indicate that the two groups were boisterous, undermining the solemnity of the event, the first of the rites to be performed in honour of the late Asantehemaa.

It is important to emphasise the fact that the candidates of the NPP and the NDC do not show hostility when they meet face to face. Whilst they make statements that sometimes are derogatory of each other, these remain campaign issues. Indeed, the two contestants show mutual respect and decorum whenever and wherever they meet. It cannot be said that the party supporters have an interest in the election which is far greater than the presidential candidates themselves.

That is why it is not worthwhile for party supporters to engage in any violent rivalry, for whatever reason. We must begin to appreciate that in any competition, there would be choices. However, the competitors have to conduct their affairs in such a manner that they are able to reach the conscience of others but not merely play on their emotions.

What needs to be emphasised is the fact that whether election or no election, we live in the community together. After the election, whoever wins would become our leader, not the leader of some of us but all of us. That is why we should not allow partisan interests to degenerate into violent conduct.  At the end of the day, it is the decision of the majority that will triumph but that is after we have honoured all the rules of engagement.

The fact that we belong to different political parties does not mean we are enemies. We can engage in teasing but that should not in any way degenerate into violence.  We have to be careful about our choice of words so that we do not open wounds. We must equally learn how to laugh at ourselves some times. That is necessary to enable us come to terms with certain individuals.

We must know how to speak such that we do not offend the sensibilities and sensitivities of others. We must understand that we join political parties for different reasons, but whatever the reason, we must be allowed to exercise our inalienable rights.  We are quick to pass comments that suggest that it is only us who are wise in our choices and that anybody who does not think the way we think is not intelligent. Those who think like this are the one’s who are not intelligent

More important, we must be conscious of where we are before we do certain things. In the particular case of the exchanges between supporters of the NPP and the NDC at the Manhyia Palace, the candidates suspended their campaigns to enable them mourn with the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu. The point is that since campaigns were suspended in solidarity with Otumfuo, the exchange was unnecessary and an affront to the chief mourners.

It must matter to us what we do and at what place. The context and environment are critical to actions. Therefore, whilst we must be thankful to God that the exchanges did not result in full blown conflict, we have to understand that it could have negatively impacted on the observation.

We now have a week to go to the polls. We all have to take notice of certain partisan actions that we take which do not promote peace and brotherliness. We must never forget that Ghana is the only country that we can call our own and which we have. We must do things that will make the country better, peaceful and orderly. We must at all times act with justice and fairness in our minds and thoughts.

It does not make sense to create wedges and taunts will not be the solution to problems. We must also be aware that sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves and be able to play. We must also accept criticism since that is a veritable means of identifying our weaknesses and finding means to overcome our failures. But there are some taunts and jokes that we should never contemplate releasing from our mouths.

We have to accept that each one of us is different and we exercise our fundamental rights in diverse ways. We must be treated with respect and decorum at all times. That is the way to strengthen our democracy.  

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