LET'S PASS ELECTION 2008 TEST

ON the map, Kenya is thousands of miles away from Ghana, but what is happening there should remind all Ghanaians to continuously guard our fledgling democracy. Events in that country should prompt all of us to be eternally vigilant, including constitutional bodies charged with ensuring transparency in governance.
Kenya, until the violence that erupted there after the elections of last week Thursday, was touted as one of the most stable countries in Africa. While it may not be anybody’s perfect example of a true democracy, it has been stable over the years, demonstrating the people’s willingness to be tolerant of one another’s views.
That stability, in great measure, accounted for the thriving economy of Kenya and the large number of tourists who visited that country annually.
Needless to say, this time round the people of Kenya failed the test, an indication that democratic societies must collectively resolve to maintain peace and stability at all times.
It is in the context of what is happening in Kenya that the admonition by President J. A. Kufuor in his New Year message to all political parties in the country must be taken seriously.
In his message, the President spoke about preparations being made by all the parties towards the December elections and advised that “as the contending parties engage one another in their various campaigns, they must be mindful of the progress made thus far and do nothing to undermine further progress”.
As we all know, Ghana has chalked up many firsts — first to gain independence in sub-Saharan African, first to sign onto the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), etc. Fortunately, too, the four successful elections we have conducted since 1992 have become the benchmarks on the African continent.
What all these mean is that nothing should be done to disturb this enviable record so that we can continue to set the pace in Pan-African unity, progress and development.
As we have noted in a previous editorial, if our politicians avoid insulting language and chicanery in their electioneering, Ghana can avoid the pitfalls that will lead to a Kenya-like situation here.
While Ghana has become a show piece all over the world and is cited as a growing democracy and an emerging economy, there are certain things we must continue to do right in order to attain our goals.
This is why the DAILY GRAPHIC finds it worrying that the people of Bawku decided to welcome the New Year with factional fighting which has so far claimed six lives.
Every Ghanaian, no matter his or her ethnic, religious or political persuasion, looked forward to 2008 with great hope, yet our brothers and sisters in Bawku forced us to enter the New Year on a note of despondency.
The DAILY GRAPHIC only hopes that all Ghanaians will demonstrate good faith this year and resort to the appropriate procedures for resolving conflicts and we urge the factions in the Bawku conflict to do the same.
The examples of failed states in Africa must be a wake-up call for us to keep our nation united and stable in order to attain our cherished goals.
We should also seek God’s guidance in our preparations towards Election 2008, so that the country can come out of it unscathed to continue its development agenda in peace and unity.