[ 2012-06-03 ]

Aflao Politics And The Castle
These are weird times indeed. Who would have
thought that former President Jerry John Rawlings
would suffer such unthinkable tribulations at the
hands of persons he ushered into local politics?

The former president and his Friends of Nana
Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR) grouping and
others associated with the organization of this
year's chapter of the June 4 celebration should be
grateful for the massive and perhaps unprecedented
publicity the event has attracted ever since the
government's behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to
scuttle it commenced.

Tempora mutantur, a Latin adage to wit 'time
changes', comes in handy in the unfolding
interesting but ironic political developments as
the attention of the country shifts to Aflao,
Volta Region.

These are times when very educated persons have
allowed themselves to be entrapped in a political
circus created by desperate and confused
politicians manning the control room of state.

For those who have doubted the impression held in
some quarters that President Mills is unusually
vindictive, the actions of the Aflao chiefs on the
June 4 celebration offer ample proof.

The chiefs have unwittingly told us all that they
fear that if they support the June 4 celebration
in their part of the Volta Region, they would be
denied the development which they badly need.

It stands to reason therefore that knowing who
President Mills is, according to them, he would
starve the people of Aflao the development they
are yearning for. What an impression about a
President who claims to be a father for all
regardless of party affiliation!

For us however, there are many lessons to be
learnt from the drama which we need in our future
political permutation.

The need for us to critically examine our
prospective leaders cannot be overemphasized,
especially when these personalities come knocking
on our doors with sugar-coated promises.

Must we vote for people who have showed without
doubts their unflinching support for vindictive
politics?

We are disappointed that those behind the Aflao
drama have suddenly become oblivious about the
regulations guiding the holding of public events
and would subscribe to such infantile manoeuvres
upon the dictates of the Castle. A seeming fiat
stopping the organizers from holding the event in
Aflao does not sound as a smart thing to do.

It would be a bad precedent in the country for a
group of chiefs to unilaterally order that a
public activity be stopped in their traditional
domains even when the Police have been duly
notified and their protection assured.

With no state of emergency in Aflao and no threat
to security, succumbing to the Castle
arranged-position of the chiefs would not be in
the interest of the growth of our democracy.

Source - Daily Guide

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