NDC, NPP nonsense must end!

When we reported and gave a vivid account of the kind of political thuggery that was expected to happen at Atiwa Constituency in the wake of its bye-election on the front page of our Tuesday, August 31, 2010 many were those who thought that it was one of those sensational stories by newspapers in this country to reap huge sales. We believe such people who doubted our Tuesday story have revised their notes.
What happened at Atiwa last Tuesday was very distasteful. And as usual it was a struggle for supremacy between the so-called two main political parties in this country – the NDC and the NPP. The Atiwa incident was nothing different from what has been happening between the two parties anytime our nation goes to the polls.
We were all witnesses to the kind of nasty and frightening incidents that were recorded at the Akwatia and Chereponi bye-elections. It was even sad that people had to lose their lives. Indeed, Today cannot fathom why anytime there is a national election the NPP and the NDC see it as a life-and-death affair. This negative mindset that is held by NPP and NDC faithful is most unfortunate.
In fact, it is that element which is fanning the feud between these parties. It is imperative that as a nation we guard against electoral tensions. The rise in electoral tensions in this nation is rather alarming, and if not nipped in the bud, can have consequential effects on our economy.
The primary objective why political parties are formed is to win political power and to ensure that the party in government implements policies to improve the lot of the citizenry. Besides, they are also expected to educate their members to be faithful and law-abiding citizens. For us on this paper, we think the education function of political parties have been ignored by NDC and NPP.
It is an open secret that both the NDC and the NPP have radical groups within their fold. Whilst the ruling NDC has the Azorka Boys, the opposition NPP has the Bamba Boys. These two groups are nothing but hooligans engaged by some leading members of the two parties to fight each other for dominance at any given election. Why should political parties organise people to foment trouble instead of educating their members to be civil and law-abiding citizens?
The leadership of these two political parties must proactively engage their members on the significance of sustaining our democratic dispensation. We must not underestimate the fact that the actions of the two groups could create problems for the country.
It is against this backdrop that we are charging NPP and NDC to disband their groups. We do not believe that it is the wish of any of the two parties to see Ghana thrown into a state of political instability.
This is why the leaders of the two parties must take steps not to encourage such radical elements in their fold. We must all be seen fighting to sustain and even improving upon our democracy. And we should also guard against Atiwa becoming a dress-rehearsal for 2012. To Mr. Amoako Atta, MP-elect for Atiwa, we say congratulations.