Election 2024: Political historian cautions politicians against reckless remarks

Professor Samuel Adu Gyamfi, a political historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has raised concerns about recent remarks by politicians ahead of the December 7 elections. During a party rally in the Eastern Region, Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, declared that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would do whatever is necessary to win the election.

In response, Kwame Governs Agbodza, the MP for Adaklu, stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is prepared to resist any actions that could jeopardize the electoral process.

Commenting on these statements, Professor Adu Gyamfi cautioned politicians to be mindful of their rhetoric, warning that inflammatory remarks could lead to instability in Ghana. He noted, “People can be very sentimental and the extent of attachment to political parties is like twins that are conjoined or Siamese twins. And because of that, we have to be very careful about what we say and how we communicate with party people.”

Professor Gyamfi criticized the statements made by Acheampong and Agbodza, stating, “I think that the two gentlemen have not done justice to the cause and the future of our democracy.” He emphasized the need for clarity and restraint in political communication, suggesting that responses should promote sanity and order rather than inflaming tensions.