Security expert at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPC), Dr Kwesi Aning, says next year’s elections could be volatile.
He explains that unless there is a change in the current posturing of the two main political parties in the country – the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) – the elections are going to be dangerous.
“2016 is going to be very difficult, is going to be dangerous, we have already started seeing the makings of a potentially dangerous and tricky election,” he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
“We must all be worried about the posture of the two political parties – the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party,” Dr Aning said.
He described as disturbing the use of vigilante groups such as Bolga Bull Dogs and Azorka Boys by both political parties to intimidate their opponents.
“If the violence, abuse, intimidation and the use of the occults during the parties’ primaries are anything to go by, then I think we are moving towards the very edge for Election 2016,” Dr Aning said.
“But because most of us will not be allowed into Europe, I think as ordinary citizens, we will have to make some very hard choices, whether we want to use violence to get somebody into power; of which we won’t get any of the trickledown effects, destroy our country and become refugees somewhere else.
“I think that choice, no one can make it for Ghanaians, and we have to make it ourselves. I know where my choice is but it is up to other people to make their choice.
“We have been lucky with Election 2008 and Election 2012 which were very tricky and we know that in Election 2016, the parties may not go to the Supreme Court. I think as citizens the choice is up to us”.
He said politicians would do what they need to do to get power, “don’t forget, politicians are only as powerful as we the citizens made them.
“As citizens what do we want? Do we want politicians who will come and make good laws for us; who will see our welfare.
“Or we want politicians who are abusive of their elders, who are intimidating, who use voodoo, who will hire people to intimidate us or politicians who will use violent means that leads to death.
“I think those are the choices that we have and those are the considerations that we need to make,” he said.
Source – Myjoyfm
