Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, says even though political actors should always feel free in expressing divergent opinions on national policies, they should also refrain from utterances that undermine the country’s democracy.
The advice comes at the back of comments made by the Dean of University of Ghana Law School, Raymond Atuguba, at a public forum organised by Solidare Ghana, suggesting that the country’s current situation may serve as a futile ground for a coup.
Prof Atuguba claimed that even though he is opposed to unlawful takeover of government, indications were clear that the country could soon experience one because, in his opinion, the conditions for such treasonable acts are ripe in the country.
Divergent views
Reacting to his comments, the Minister of Information stated emphatically that the Akufo-Addo administration has no problem with people expressing divergent views on policies and national developments. He added, however, that the government abhors attempts by some political actors “to lace their commentary with anti-democratic comments and insinuations that undermine our democracy”.
“Comments to the effect that some conditions are ripe for a coup are most unfortunate and disappointing. They are disappointing because despite COVID-19, Ghana’s current economic status is far better than the days of yesteryear when there was no global pandemic.
“Even if they were worse, the Constitution provides legitimate means for advocating for and executing a change. For respected persons to be purporting that such conditions legitimize coups is a terrible attack on our democracy itself and should not be condoned,” the Minister said in a news release.
Condemnation
As would be expected, Prof Atuguba’s comment has received widespread condemnation. The most notable one is from a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the Jerry John Rawlings administration, Dr. Obed Asamoah. He has described Atubiga’s comment “childish and infantile” and “coming from someone who is unaware of the consequences of military takeovers”.
Dr Asamoah explained that because coup makers do not discriminate, coup mongers will also be at risk when there is a military takeover.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 yesterday, Dr. Asamoah explained that soldiers who overthrow a constitutionally elected government always revenge against persons they had issues with.
“If someone was fighting with a military officer over a woman, that person will be targeted if there is a coup and be eliminated. This ‘Fix Ghana’ elements, some of them are openly calling for a military takeover…Those people are childish. When a coup happens the power that is wielded by the soldiers immediately after the coup is not discriminatory…they look at it in personal terms,” he said.
Dr Asamoah added that it is not automatic that a military government will solve the problems facing the people, adding that “the other thing is you can have a military government that will be completely inefficient”.
Bad taste
In a related development, Alban S.K. Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has also expressed concerns about commentaries on coups among some Ghanaians.
According to him, comments like that are in bad taste and do not auger well for the progress of the country. He noted that Parliament will suffer most when there is a military takeover, compared with the Judiciary or the Executive.
The Speaker, in a meeting with Council of State, said the Legislative arm government suffers during coup because there will always be the Judiciary and Executive.
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