Nana Akufo-Addo and the former Ghanaian leader, John Mahama: Antagonistic politics should be discouraged in Ghana
No matter how effective a leader is, certain factors can hamper their efforts, leading to hostility, slow development, anger, and frustration in a country.
Apart from corruption, two issues that have drastically taken their toll on Ghanaian politics are armed robbery and political antagonism.
The present political situation in Ghana, in regards to the impact of corruption, the imposition of higher tariffs on imported goods, and the exorbitant prices of both foreign and locally manufactured products, is enough to reveal that Ghana is struggling to maintain a flexible economy.
Instead of all the political parties coming together to find common solutions, suggest ways to create employment and develop the country, the New Patriotic Party is under constant attack from opposition parties, especially the NDC, while the NDC also experiences the same.
Such an antagonistic political atmosphere in Ghana is not helping Ghana anyway; instead, it’s dividing a country in which citizens aren’t interested in political violence.
The NPP and NDC members keep exchanging insults. In many African countries, experience reveals a similar issue leading to political violence. I want to use this platform to humbly ask Ghanaians to stop the uncivilized behavior and help Nana Akufo-Addo’s government make Ghana a better place.
Such political antagonism can never help a nation to thrive or flourish. This is one of the reasons Ghanaians see no progress in the country and are now blaming Nana Akufo-Addo for all the hardships, without taking into consideration the shortest period this president has been in office.
Political opponents spend time posting angry, abusive, and discriminatory comments and articles against each other, and think such articles will help Ghana as a nation. Antagonistic politics is killing Ghana at a very fast rate, like how corruption is having serious implications for Ghana.
Anger and insults have now become identified with Ghanaian politics, and no political party is prepared to help each other to help other parties succeed because of greed and corruption.
It is not beyond belief to imagine how Ghana can be transformed under multiple plans, solutions, and opinions from different political parties. If no political party is willing to help the present Ghanaian government restore Ghana to its former state, then no one should be a stumbling block to its efforts.
Finding solutions to curb and reduce armed robbery in Ghana
Armed robbery not only puts the lives of Ghanaians in danger, but it also affects the development of a country. No matter how great Ghana’s political history is, with wonderful sight attractions, the country can never earn enough foreign exchange if armed robbery is prevalent in the country. Armed robbery scares tourists because it’s a crime.
There are many ways to reduce armed robbery in every country. I will, therefore, share my opinions if they will be useful to the Ghanaian government. There are too many illegal firearms in Ghana because, either sold to armed robbers by some policemen or snatched away by the robbers.
How can the Ghanaian government get back all the illegal firearms circulating in the country? This is where the Ghanaian government has to build a friendly relationship with robbers and thieves and call for the submission of all illegal firearms. The government must give anyone who submits one gun a good, specified amount.
The government has to give them full assurance by not breaking the assurance that it is not a trap to arrest them. They are hungry and unemployed, which reason many are involved in armed robbery; therefore, if they gain any confidence in the government to submit an illegal firearm, the government shouldn’t abuse that trust to arrest any of them.
If this plan works, the Ghanaian government will see how many guns brave, hungry robbers will submit to them.
Another solution is giving armed robbers education to integrate into society. A special vocational school must be set up to train them in fields such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and driving. This is a way to give them a second life to avoid being a menace to society.
Criminal records reveal that thieves and armed robbers, after a prison sentence, go back to their old bad habits because society is no friend to them. Setting up a vocational school will educate those outgoing prisoners to live a useful and purposeful life.
My dear, Nana Akufo Addo, I don’t like politics, and I am not a member of any Ghanaian political party, but since I want you to be different and special among the past Ghanaian leaders, and transform Ghana to be a better place for everyone including me to enjoy, I will humbly ask you as a leader to try what I have suggested in this article and see if Ghana will not be free from armed robbers.