Let's be bold in the fight against lawlessness to avoid violence in 2020 – Asantehene

General News of Sunday, July 14, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-07-14

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II warned of impending political unrest in the general elections of 2020 if existing laws are not enforced to combat vigilance and other related crimes.

He therefore urged national leaders to adopt bold and honest attitudes to denounce problems that tend to affect the peace and stability of the country.

Asantehenes raised these concerns when a delegation from the National Peace Council paid a courtesy call on him at Manhyia Palace.

He lamented that unhealthy policies have invaded Ghanaian society and that citizens have been divided along political lines.

Asantehene, who did not mince words, said political parties must take responsibility for the growing threat of vigilance in the Ghanaian political landscape.

He said that anyone intending to commit a crime adheres to a political party to hide under the parties and perpetrate such crimes.

He expressed concern that existing laws that denigrate vigilance and other related crimes were not being enforced and that discussions were underway to adopt new laws to address the threat.

The unrest that characterized the partial elections of Ayawaso West Wuogon and the murder of a young man at the NDC party office in Kumasi by people suspected of belonging to a militant group pro NDC, the Hawks, raised fears of a risk of violence in the 2020 general election.

These disturbances have been widely condemned and a bill has been sent to Parliament to fight the vigilance of political parties and related offenses.

Although the National Peace Council is still working on a road map with political party leaders to ensure the total dismantling of self-defense groups, Mr. Asantehene says activities could occur if he does not want to go out of his way. There is no truth and honesty in such cases.

"Is it not possible to identify those who provoked unrest in the by-elections of Ayawaso Wuogon or those who participated in the shootings at the NDC party office? We are all in this country and these people are also living with us, so why can we tell the truth about these issues as well? Even with all this, we always say we make laws. Is there not already in the Penal Code a law providing that if someone must shoot another person with a firearm or use a machete on another, he is arrested and translated in court? If we discuss such issues, we must approach them with the truth.

Asantehene added, "We are all afraid to be called and appointed. So, if we live in a country where everything is bad and no one can say it boldly, I do not think it will help us all. I will only argue that you have been mandated to ensure peace and before we can achieve that, we must address the issues with the truth. Whether it is a government in power or an opponent, as long as it does what is wrong, let us be bold and say it. "

Ghana existed before politics was created, but it is politics that has dominated it now and, since we are unable to deal with problems with the truth, things are not going so well. If we can not talk openly about this threat, we will come back to this election next year. We will certainly hear about gunshots or people taking voting ballots during the elections. This will happen. All those involved in such activities do so for the political parties to which they belong. So if we can not tell the truth about such issues and if we can not enforce existing laws, anarchy will persist in our country. If there is peace, there must be truth, if there is truth, everything will be fine, "he said.

Asantehene also said that he was working a lot in the background to consolidate peace in Dagbon, as some outstanding leadership issues have still not been resolved in the region.

The council of the National Peace Council, chaired by the chairman of the council, was at the Manhyia Palace to thank Otumfuo for its role in promoting peace and stability, not only in the Asante Kingdom, but also in Ghana. .

The visit also aimed to thank the Asantehenes for leading the Committee of Eminent Chiefs to restore peace in Dagbon after nearly two decades of conflict between the Andani royal families.

The council also commended Asantehene for the tireless efforts it has made to restore peace in the traditional Dagbon region.

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, President of the Peace Council, told Citi News that the council is committed to ending the threat of vigilance in the country.