Ghana must use the ongoing election petition to \u201cheal\u201d the nation, the 2012 presidential candidate of the Convention People\u2019s Party (CPP), , has urged.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhichever way the decision of the Supreme Court goes, Ghanaians must stand firmly together as one nation to embrace a fragile democracy and heal the wounds of a battered nation\u201d, Dr Sakara said.<\/p>\n
The agriculture economist, however, cautioned, \u201cWe cannot and must not allow the nation to descend into the bottomless abyss of dissent, disobedience and destructive conduct\u201d.<\/p>\n
In Dr Sakara\u2019s view, Ghanaians must reflect calmly and objectively on the choices, to avoid the path of destruction and cling to the path of progress with renewed commitment to national unity.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued yesterday, Dr Sakara expressed the hope that the court case ended soon, adding that, \u201cIts conclusion can also have only one of two possible outcomes: either carry on with the president we have now, or we prepare ourselves for another election of a sort yet to be determined\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn either case, we must warn ourselves to be more careful in the future and take some sensible measures to reform our electoral process and acquaint ourselves properly with its complex procedures, which have many grey areas for use of good judgment,\u201d he counselled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we reflect upon the choices we must make, we need to understand why certain issues seem to arouse so much passion in our society. We must also learn how to deal with these issues within reasonable bounds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dr Sakara observed that, \u201cThe heady days of national fervour of the immediate post colonial period saw an unprecedented feeling of nationhood with a shared vision and common purpose. This state of affairs was, however, short lived because the political differences persisted and spilled over beyond reasonable bounds culminating in the first \u201ccoup d\u2019 etat\u201d in February, 1966.<\/p>\n
The rest is history, but the reasons for our deep divisions that led to social and political turmoil remain the same (fundamental political differences that were not resolved within reasonable bounds and legitimate means)\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to him, the current election petition was an opportunity to \u201cresolve our differences legitimately and within reasonable bounds for the sake of our common good. This court case (election petition) gives us one more try to get it right\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an opportunity to leave behind us the baggage of the past that has so sharply polarised our nation. Each and every one of us, politicians, judges, supporters and counselors have a duty to ensure that this time we get it right\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cto pass the test, we must hand over to the next generation a nation in tranquility and harmony\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dr Sakara cautioned that, \u201cHow we handle the aftermath of this court case will send a clear signal of our intent whether by acts of commission or omission. My appeal is to heal the nation and bind the wounds within our society. Let us all cooperate to proactively determine that we shall march forward on the path of progress, peace and prosperity\u201d.<\/p>\n
He noted that, \u201cThose who claim that the court case had divided the nation have only now woken up, very late, to a pre-existing condition of the nation long before this election began. Right from the beginnings as a nation state, our country has been sharply polarised and divided by one decision or another\u201d.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: Graphic Online<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ghana must use the ongoing election petition to \u201cheal\u201d the nation, the 2012 presidential candidate of the Convention People\u2019s Party (CPP), , has urged. \u201cWhichever way the decision of the Supreme Court goes, Ghanaians must stand firmly together as one nation to embrace a fragile democracy and heal the wounds of a battered nation\u201d, Dr […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11495],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n