Last Saturday, the nation held the last funeral rites for the late Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Ekwow Hayford.
In attendance were ordinary citizens and an array of politicians, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia as well as MPs on both sides of Parliament.
Indeed, it was a gathering of the nation, rather than political parties, to send home the message that the level of crime that was committed was indeed not only against the person gone, but against the state as a family.
Background
Forced to stop like others, who were that night harassed by the armed robbers, he obeyed and pleaded, only for the murderers who appeared determined to end the late MP’s life just like that.
Angry, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the security agencies to pursue the murderers. Thankfully, some suspects were caught and the case is rolling expeditiously in court.
Public reaction
Public outcry against the murder has been huge and resounding, indicating that we, as a nation, hate blood and the gory event that was recorded. Whilst government put in place a programme to protect MPs, it also urged the state security agencies to show more visibility and bare teeth in protecting ordinary citizens.
Since then, civil society, traditional and religious leaders as well as the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the National Peace Council and the media have, with one voice, urged restraint as the December 7 election approaches.
Of equal importance is the series of warnings our security agencies have given vigilantes and potential criminals over the processes that unfold in the coming days, aimed at giving Ghana a set of leadership to govern this great nation of ours.
President’s warning
That is why we agree with the President’s repetition of his warning to the lunatic fringe who are ready to take any coins to commit murder for political purposes. The collective will of the people is for a united Ghana, during this time, in rolling out peaceful and credible elections – not one skewed and contrived on the imaginations of despicable nonentities.
The message is important in the light of last week’s march by our security agencies parading the logistics and showing readiness to protect the people before, during and after the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Law and order
Social stability is an indispensable ingredient for growth and national development. Any nation that overlooks that fact runs into danger of being overtaken by crimes and criminals such as we have seen particularly in the case of such apparent political murders.
We agree with the President that, at this point, we cannot beat our chests as a nation of fervent believers in democracy and the rule of law, without sending home strong signals to these criminals and murderers that we hate crime and would go the full hog in immobilising such beasts.
But that is why our investigators and prosecutors as well as judges must also help us send home that message, that the processes would not only be fair but swift enough to deter the delinquent and fickle-minded politician.