The founder of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has indicated that until citizens learn to tolerate each other’s views, the nation will not progress.
He advised that while Ghanaians are mourning the death of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Upper East Regional chairman, Adam Mahama, it is important to “deal with one root cause of our lack of significant forward march as a people – intolerance.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”Yzxht5NezOYkLWv7iNW93rlQyU6e83C1″]Adam Mahama was buried last Saturday after he died after suffering an acid attack.
The leadership of the NPP, various political parties, the President and other state institutions have condemned the act and have called for calm.
In a post on his Facebook page, the 2012 presidential candidate of the PPP pointed out that intolerance, lack of respect for divergent views and a desire to wipe out opponents even within the same political party does not only exist in one political party.
He was of the view that Ghana has “quite a long way to go” if its people are unable to “live together with with dissenting voices.”
“Turn on your radio any day and you will hear ample evidence of the insults our people heap on those whose only crime is that they disagree with someone’s opinion about something,” he remarked.
“When people disagree with the President of the Republic, they are seen to be disrespectful citizens who want to destroy the “father of the nation” and as a father, his word should be the law to be obeyed by all. Every little leader becomes a “chief” who is a repository of wisdom.”
Dr. Nduom cautioned that it is imperative for every political party in Ghana to realize that “we live in a society that wants to put everyone in the same straight jacket often. As human as we are, we have minds of our own. We will have ideas that are different from that of others. Some people love fufu. Others prefer kenkey. Kweku will support Ebusua Dwarfs but Kwesi will follow Elmina Sharks. I support PPP but I know no matter what I do, some people will choose NDC, NPP or PNC and I must be ok with it and work harder with positive messages and a good attitude to win people to my party.”
He added that “our choices will differ and we must make this a positive point – and weave a wonderful kente cloth with different colours. When we are able to do this, our country Ghana will become strong and its people prosperous.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan