THE essence of founding and sustaining political parties is to realise the true and basic tenets of democracy, which include but not limited to the attainment of the true will of the people, a representative and responsible government and probity and accountability of government to the people.
Democracy, to attain its true meaning of government of the people by the people for the people, can only flourish in an environment of even and fair competition, a free and professional media unreservedly committed to the pursuit of the truth, an independent, just, fair and courageous Electoral Commission (EC) and Judiciary and an enlightened and conscious electorate alive to its rights and responsibilities.
It is when these and other ingredients are present in the contest of ideas among political parties that choices could be made that reflect both the true will and interest and aspirations of the people.
It is not uncommon in many political systems, especially those that aspire to wearing the democratic tag, to witness the injection in the electoral process of issues that not only sharply divide the people but also create serious confusion, fear and panic in society.
In the run up to Ghana’s independence on March 6, 1957, the political atmosphere was one of an appreciable degree of violence, with bombs, gunshots and even catapults deployed as instruments of terror designed to intimidate and petrify opponents of those deploying them into inaction and thus enable them to capture political power.
Again, in the run up to the 2008 general election, the same instruments for creating fear and panic were at play when the nation was awash with reports that if a particular political party was elected, it would murder some prominent members of society.
Clearly, such negative acts do not only poison the political atmosphere but also seek to walk the truth on its head and, in so doing, subvert the true will of the people in the democratic process.
Such actions also contribute significantly to further divide and polarise the people, thereby making the quest for national unity and cohesion, which is essential for accelerated development, very difficult to attain.
Again, such acts undermine the confidence of the people and the development partners in the country as they emit potential signals of instability and scare away investment, in the process undermining national socio-economic development and progress.
It is largely on account of these and others that we endorse the call by President John Evans Atta Mills for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to probe the alleged serial murder of women in the run up to the 2000 elections (see front page).
We do so on account of the fact that episode was and still is one issue of great importance touching on the very lives and existence of our people and one in which the government has a bounden duty to ensure that all within its jurisdiction are safe and free from fear and panic.
Again, this matter, even after 10 years, still evokes fear in the ranks of the people, especially so as important questions such as who was behind them, what was their motive, how were the killings carried out, how and when were they conceived, who were those who supported and facilitated them and many more, have not been answered.
We believe that such a probe will get to the bottom of the matter, unearth the truth, ensure that the law takes it course and then the good people of this country will then rest assured that the real miscreants have been smoked out and dealt with and that their safety and freedom from fear is enhanced.
We also urge the media to endeavour to adopt a zero tolerance for falsehood and mischief makers whose stock in trade is to create fear and panic and destabilise the system, compromise national development and progress and then turn round to cry that the nation is not moving forward.
We take this opportunity to call on all to support this probe and volunteer information to the police to enable them to unravel this matter to ensure the prevalence of the national interest.
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