Dissent is ‘Anti-National’ in Akufo-Addo’s Ghana: Government continues to clamp down on criticism

Mr President,

Dissent is the safety valve of democracy. What was the crime of Ghanaians who critique some policies and decisions of government?

The former President, the NDC party and other opposition parties have supported the covid-19 fight from public education to distribution of food, PPEs and other items. The former President and other opposition leaders responding to this pandemic, are doing their best to assist the vulnerable, supporting the health workers, who are discharging their duties by risking their lives. As the main opposition party, the NDC quickly responded to this emergency and streamlined the communication network across the country and formed a covid-19 response team to support government’s effort.

The former President and his former appointees have rich experience in handling humanitarian crisis and diseases of this magnitude with a broader approach and have a track record of mitigating the catastrophes pragmatically. Responding promptly to the crisis, the former President, who is also the leader the largest opposition party, swung into action without much delay and coordinated with other stakeholders who helped and continue to support the fight. This is what Ghanaians expect of their leaders not threats and inciting the public against the incumbent for political advantage as we saw during the Ebola fight.

Mr President, The freedom of expression is firmly anchored in the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, which has an entire chapter dedicated to the independence and freedom of the media. Freedom of speech and of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organizations, for without free political discussion no public education, so essential for the proper functioning of the process of popular government, is possible.

Our founding fathers and drafters of the 1992 constitution envisaged a nation that is rich in diversity of thoughts, culture, religion, and tradition. Throughout history, we have always taken pride and celebrated pluralism. However, in the last few years, we are witnessing the muzzling of dissent, the harassment of rationalists, and an increase in hate crimes. The growing of suppression of dissent has caused a deep impact on the social fabric of our country. Civil liberties are paramount in a democracy. A clear statement by His Excellency, welcoming dissent would be timely and would reassure Ghanaians that our democratic freedoms are still alive

Mr President, in recent years, the space for dissent has shrunk to the point of suffocation and freedom of speech is a raging topic, yet again. The media are under pressure to self censor or succumb to government line. All too often, in this guise of national interest, your government and its agents have been trying to silence any sort of remonstrations. So, no surprise, that you accused your political opponents of playing political mischief with the covid-19 fight. But you must be reminded that an entrenched culture of dissent in Ghana is hard to stamp down. So, whether it is the decision to gag your political opponents, or falsely accuse your political opponents of undermining the fight against the pandemic, people will still offer constructive criticism and also offer alternative views on all national issues.

The former President’s advice and suggestions were clear: he made constructive suggestions and did not engage in a political slugfest with the government. We can defeat the virus if we fight it together, we lose if we fight with each other. Your caustic dismissal of anything the opposition may say, irrespective of the merits of their suggestions is not good for the task confronting the people of Ghana. Your government’s pathological hatred for the former president and critics of your government was also amply visible on media networks sympathetic to your party and government. The former President just like many other Ghanaians urged government to put in place necessary systems to combat the imminent dangers that the coronavirus pandemic could pose to the country. To interpret this important call as political propaganda is unfortunate.

Mr President, Coronavirus has exposed the gaps in the system and you don’t need the former President to tell you this. Our private sector is supporting the government through financial and logistic support. Our doctors, nurses, health workers, our security personnel are working in the front line. The restrictions have started having telling impact on our economy because of the large informal sector. We have to sustain export industries and also support domestic ones. Our agriculture sector which employs chunk of the population has adversely been affected due to huge disruptions of supply chain all over the country.

Mr President, as the world tackles the covid-19 problems, we will need a new kind of approach; an approach that foster cooperation and not isolation among stakeholders. These were the critical issues the former president raised during his interaction with the public which is giving you and your government nightmares. We have to always act or move ahead of the virus, and focus on how to combat possible future problems the pandemic will unleash on us. This is not the time for grammar lessons, false accusations, baseless comparisons and making of tall promises.

Source: Ohenenana Obonti Krow