At the very heart of a thriving society, institution or perhaps governance, has been the elasticity of decorum being tested, and tolerance, suffering its best or worse fate.

For centuries and counting, nations and empires have had to go through some political shocks with wars, not just in words, but brutalities, violence and bloodshed being the common occurrence in entrenching an opinion or view. Sadly, it has left deaths in its wake and nightmarish conformity to an individual’s or group’s version of what’s true.

Such disagreements, at its core, should never be the reason or an avenue for violence to thrive, or brutalities, meted out in the hope of ingraining and imposing one’s ideologies and what one deems as true under any given circumstance on another individual or group. Choices are there for a reason, and someone’s contrary views must not in any way occasion some unruly acts of violence or even deemed a revolting move to destabilize that which has become the ethos of an institution.

The failure of this vital test was sadly witnessed as Ghana yet again, was confronted with the task of proving its mettle in ensuring sanctity in its political elections in the version of the Super delegates conference by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The party’s effort at whittling down the ten flagbearer aspirants to five, in anticipation of an eventual winner in the November 4 elections was nearly marred in the North East Region after violence erupted. The violence concerned Ali Zakaria, an agent of flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kyerematen, who was reportedly assaulted at the election scene.

The drama portends an even greater concern not only for the country’s overall future, but its political progress by the very act of a flagbearer aspirant of the party. Kennedy Agyapong, with hopes of becoming President of this country one day, in the heat of the moment, threatened to give what he describes as a ‘showdown’ to President Akufo-Addo and Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for allegedly chasing out his polling agent in the flagbearer elections of the party.

While the government is still being haunted by the ghost of its past – with condemning review of its handling of the Ayawaso West Wuogon in 2019 and the murder of eight innocent Ghanaians during the 2020 elections, it appears that not only this government, but the entire political enclave of the country is yet to have a full grasp of the vast and far-reaching impact of such reckless acts, by going against its own principles and vows in maintaining order and peace during elections.

Undoubtedly, politics has gradually evolved to become more or less like a religion where people only team up with those who share their ideologies and are fixated on some set of values and beliefs, all the while, disregarding other possibilities. The more passionate actors on the political field become about these ideologies, the less they tend to care about understanding the issues which they are sworn to defend to the end.

Creating diversity in politics

The very act of normalizing a wrong act over a period of time does not make it ultimately the truth, especially when the shrewd judgements of the people in society are at play.

Human existence has been in place for thousands of years, although the ideas of being single-minded have penetrated deep, the descriptive part of humans social remain largely influenced by the groups that exists. Most often than not, there’s a tendency to feel a strong affinity with the ones which share similar underlying values whether it be family or friends. These values shape the ideology of a people, which is sometimes confused as inherent reality.

Owing to this, when the truth stands in conflict with a person’s ideology, ignorance becomes preferable to the truth. Putting one’s money where their mouth is has become a Herculean task for the kind of political players the country has. In spite of they mounting podiums, writing flowery statements and professing love for diversity, in reality, they prefer homogeneity – a society where all share the same values.

Because of the often one-colored way of viewing things, those who do not agree become the obvious opponents. As a result, there are no investments of time in understanding the socio-cultural fabric of such matters.

Creating a level playing field, where tolerance of view, healthy political and social discourse even, aimed at shaping the future of a country cannot be shortchanged by countenancing the shortsightedness of a person, who only has his or her political interest in sight is imperative. The era of blame game and playing rhetoric no longer thrives in an economic and political community where the people no longer have the patience to stomach any disrespect.

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when threats are casually treated, hurt egos are allowed to go unaddressed and seething disunity and discord, sown within the political fabrics of the country, is left unchecked. Disruptions don’t exist in vacuums; they are borne out of unresolved skirmishes and disregarded pleas for justice.

It is indeed high time for all political players in the country to rise up, clean house and plug all the teething issues within their parties before considering leading an entire country, with an even more diverse views and perspectives on issues. Decorum and tolerance must breathe new life again!