The hypocrisy and double standards of NDC

The recent happenings in Ghana have left many to wonder whether Ghana, whose democratic credentials received lots of commendations worldwide especially after the December 2008 Presidential elections, which the National Democratic Congress(NDC) and its candidate won by a razor blade margin is still intact after the NDC eight years in power.

When NDC took over the mantle, a lot of heinous and undemocratic things happened in Ghana which could only happen under a military or unconstitutional rule. The irony, however, is that such militaristic actions in a democratic Ghana, in my opinion, has not received wider condemnations as it is receiving now under Nana Addo government. It left me with no option than to ask if the government of Mills/ Mahama have the moral right to talk about the culture of impunity?

I will enumerate some of the illegalities and tortures that Ghanaians have undergone since Mills/ Mahama administration took over the affairs of Ghana some eight years ago. I want readers to tell if such occurrences were acceptable under a democratic governance.

Firstly, it was at Bawku that some persons including a teacher were stripped naked and paraded in the streets over allegations that the military has since been unable to prove. The question to ask is why should human beings be stripped naked and paraded on the streets under a constitutional regime? At least readers would agree with me that, such scenes were only reminiscence of a criminal military or unconstitutional regime.

There is, therefore, every reason for Ghanaians to reflect and recall the past phenomenon. Some military personnel not only allegedly molested the people of Nalerigu in the Northern region on the 24th November 2009 but also allegedly raped at least three women! I hope nobody will have the courage to describe this barbaric act as a feature of a democratic government.

Thirdly, one Salifu Maikankani was allegedly assaulted by officials from the National Security headquarters in Accra and he died the following day. As at the time they were leaving office no shadow was arrested, not to talk of a human being in connection with the death of Maikankani who was a very enterprising young man and the breadwinner of his family.

Also, four members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were butchered to death at Agbogloshie in Accra in broad daylight and in front of a police station by alleged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and nobody has been arrested. Even President Mills who on many occasions stated he was the father of all Ghanaians could not condemn such a barbaric act!

Some law abiding Ghanaians have had their constitutional right of movement curtailed since president Mills/ Mahama took over the affairs of Ghana in 2009. In some cases, the way such persons are prevented from travelling is so ridiculous and criminal. I hope readers would remember the case of Mr and Mrs Stephen Asamoah Boateng and how they were prevented from travelling by the BNI at the Kotoka International Airport with their kids.

Again some Ghanaians have had their passports confiscated contrary to a warrant or ruling from a court of competent jurisdiction. The case of the former Foreign Affairs Minister under the Kufuor Administration readily comes to mind. I hope nobody would say this archaic action of the security agencies is a democratic feature. In fact, it is more of a military regime action than a constitutional behaviour then.

Media houses that are perceived to be anti-government like Oman FM and Skyy Power FM in Takoradi were harassed like was witnessed when Ghana was under a military rule from 1981-1992. At least Choice Fm in Accra among other media houses mentioned above have had their share of harassments.

Some Ghanaians were killed in their houses and the killing of a young man at Tema who once challenged ex-president Rawlings by unknown thugs should also be a serious source of worry to all Ghanaians. The mystery is that in all these killings nobody is known to have been arrested!

I hope readers would remember the Rambo style that vehicles of ex-government officials including ex-president Kufuor and even the current President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo were seized and are being seized in Ghana. The cause of worry of some of these seizures was that those vehicles were taken in the middle of town and at traffic lights! When simple procedures could have been used.

Some of these things are uncalled for in a democratic dispensation. The only regime that such things can happen is under military dictatorship and not a Democratic nation like ours. Is it not so sad that such things happened in Ghana under the presidency of Mills/ Mahama administration?

Furthermore, mass dismissals from work of persons perceived to be unsympathetic to President Mills/Mahama regime was a daily culture in Ghana. In a democratic dispensation, employees are entitled to maximum notice before the termination of their appointments. What we were witnessing in Ghana can only happen under undemocratic regimes.

President Mahama aside announcing much earlier that, non-members of his revolution would be sacked from their jobs for NDC activists to take over, said through his Spokesperson, Mahama Ayariga, that government appointees should open their doors and windows to NDC activists and offer them any support. The question to ask is that, were the same NDC activities who are so vociferous today heard that statement then?

NDC activists must be told with plain words that, such directives were also hypocritical and do not describe him as "father for all" as he wants us to believe. NDC must also be told that some of the things that happened in Ghana under the leadership of the Mills and Mahama administrations were barbaric and undemocratic since they took over on January 7th, 2009 to January 7th, 2017. that can only happen under military or unconstitutional regimes.

The question, therefore, is that, is this the first time we are experiencing political violence and vandalism? Thank God Nana Addo is putting an end to this undemocratic behaviour.