Military must take over if……

Yirenkyi Opare-Akuffo

Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA) has advocated for a military takeover in Ghana if there is any violence after the December 7 general elections.

He said a military takeover will be necessary to avert any calamity that may befall the nation after the December polls since all the political parties, especially the NPP and the NDC are claiming victory way ahead of the polls. He said if the political parties refuse to accept the results of the elections; the military must intervene for at least two years to restore law and order after which fresh elections will be organized.

Dr. Antwi-Danso was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Accra Daily Mail (ADM) on power sharing in Africa and a possible power sharing arrangement in Ghana, as the country holds crucial elections in three months time.

On the likelihood of electoral crisis erupting in Ghana before, during or after the December polls that could lead to power sharing Dr. Antwi-Danso said, it is possible but not probable for an electoral dispute to arise after the December polls considering the entrenched positions the political parties have taken especially the ruling NPP which is looking for a historic third term and the NDC which has also promised to reject any result that will give victory to the NPP.

He was quite unequivocal. He told ADM that should there be an electoral crisis in Ghana after the December polls which threatens peace and stability, the military must takeover to save lives and property but said it is not a probability for electoral dispute to erupt after the polls because of Ghanaians’ compassion for one another and willingness to let go in the name of peace.

On the issue of why there are so many electoral disputes in Africa, Dr.Antwi-Danso said the Westminster/presidential type of governance where the winner takes all or first-past-the-post is not favourable and proving to be difficult in Africa because of the economic and ethno-political mosaic of the African people. Neo-patrimony, in which an office of power is used for personal use and gain, as opposed to a strict division of the private and public spheres or corruption are contributory factors to electoral crisis in Africa.

The politics of vengeance, said Dr. Antwi-Danso, and vindictiveness are other factors contributing to electoral violence in Africa. He cited Ghana as an example where the NDC will want to win power by all means so as to be able to imprison NPP functionaries because the former claims the latter has imprisoned its members, the latest being Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata.

He said a critical factor is that politics in Africa has become a conduct not for service but for luxury and fame and therefore everybody wants to get there through fair or foul means. Africa therefore must re-look at the type of democracy that it needs to suit Africa’s own specificities. “This is the only sure way Africa and for that matter Africans can enjoy economic and political stability and prosperity” he said.

He advised politicians to always seek the interest of the nation and the people they seek to lead first, instead of putting their own parochial interests ahead of everything.