The Dangers of Lawlessness

The alleged beaten death of Mr. Salifu Ahmed by the BNI is unfortunate and the incident itself underscores the dangers of lawlessness. It is shameful and incomprehensible for citizens to throng the office of a security agency throwing stones in support of a politician or for that matter anyone who is under “investigation.” If in fact, if the principles of the rule of law are adhered to; neither the government nor the public would need to interfere with the work of an agency such as the BNI.

But who can blame the young man who lost his life and many others who have in recent months made the trip to the office of the BNI? As the adage goes, “fish rots from the head.” When leaders and those who are supposed to know the law better don’t live by it, then it would be a matter of time before the entire society becomes ungovernable.

As suggested by his age of thirty years old, Mr. Salifu Ahmed was born in 1979 and grew up in the darkest period in Ghana’s history. A period when the rule of law gave way to the rule of brutality; a period when respect for human life and dignity was completely lost; a period when respect for citizen’s rights and freedom was trodden upon. This was a time when it was cool for the president to beat up on his vice president. Indeed, if the environment in which one lives can have influence on one’s life, then Mr. Salifu Ahmed’s decision to partake in the march to the BNI’s office should not be a surprise to anyone.

What baffles me is that after the repressive years which stretched from 1979 to about 2000, Ghanaians, politicians and citizens alike have not learnt anything. We see every issue in the context of partisan politics. As such, many of us, unfortunately, support whatever goes on during the term of a government we tend to support without regard to any ramifications of the action(s) by the government or its agencies. Even agencies whose activities and operations are supposed to be neutral and free of government interferences do not seem to be keeping their neutrality in a way to ensure the equal administration of justice. I have already denounced the march to the BNI’s office by Asamoah Boateng’s supporters as shameful. But what is equally shameful and inexplicable is the way the BNI has handled issues involving certain key members of the previous administration - seizure of passports, curtailing individual’s freedom of movement without authorization by a court of competent jurisdiction and scaling walls to access private property without a search warrant are indication that Ghana’s democracy and freedom is in serious problem. The way the BNI is going about its business is causing many people to be doubtful of the agency’s credibility. Therefore, any formal charges preferred against people like Asamoah Boateng and Akwasi Osei Agyei, perceived or real, will be seen as bogus. In just a few weeks, the court has on two occasions ruled as unconstitutional against the BNI on its procedures in cases involving two former ministers. To nurture our young democracy to a strong and sustainable level, all Ghanaians, men and women from all political divide need to stand up against what is becoming a culture of vendetta or Ghana will soon become another Kenya or Liberia. We should remember that it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it is our responsibility. President Obama reminded us that “Africa doesn’t need strongmen (machomen), it needs strong institutions” We will not earn our respectable place on the world stage by the number of conflicts we create nor by the number of people we brutalize. Rather, we will earn our place by the jobs we create and the freedom and security we provide for all Ghanaians.

A. Opoku-Agyemang