A cross section of the NPP faithful in Kumasi demonstration. Inset: Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and Sir John
“Peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice”—Harrison Ford.
One word that has inundated our ears these past few weeks and moons is ‘peace’. I joined my compatriots to walk, talk, sing, dance and pray for peace. We did all that because we know too well what the absence of peace can do to a nation.
Take your crucifix and shout hallelujah if you believe Yesu Kristo is your Lord and personal saviour. Chew kola and pour libation if you are a die-hard traditionalist. And if you are one who is proud to be called a Muslim, like I am, then grab your long ‘tasbi’ and make supplications.
Why? The Bearded Old Man above has answered our prayers and dropped peace on this nation like he dropped manna from the sky.
Yes, we have peace. But have you ever wondered how fragile that peace could be without justice? Today, there is a semblance of peace in Agbogbloshie, Bawku, Dagbon and other conflict-ridden areas in the country.
But trust me when I say the peace would continue to be fragile until the victims and other aggrieved persons see that justice is done.
I belong to the school of thought which believes that but for lack of justice, the world today could be more peaceful than the fragile peace we are currently enjoying.
Most of the instability we see in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire and other places could easily disappear into thin air if ‘the powers that be’ tried to be fair and just in their dealings.
The concept of justice is one of the essential pillars in the maintenance of both natural and social orders. It is not for nothing that we often read and hear the slogan, “No justice, no peace.”
The linkage of justice to peace is not only logical, but a truism that cannot be denied by any true lover of peace. Indeed, justice is one of the indispensable prerequisites of any lasting peace.
It is the reason I support the Osono’s cause to seek redress using the legal channel rather than using brawl and arms. It is in the interest of both the victor and the vanquished that all fogs concerning the elections are cleared. It is in the interest of all of us that justice is served so we can live in absolute peace.
Dwight David Eisenhower once said, “In preparing for battle, I’ve always found that plans are useless, but planning is always indispensable.”
It is very obvious that Osono’s decision not to rush to the Supreme Court is because it is taking its time to gather evidence that could pass the test of the court. Eisenhower’s saying makes nonsense of the claim that Osono’s delay in going to court is because it has no proper evidence.
Osono’s delay is also supported by Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy that if he had eight hours to chop down a tree, he would spend six hours sharpening his axe.
There is this talk by some political commentators that the Osono has no case because its leaders went to sleep and allowed its main opponent to massage the electoral figures. I do not believe the Osono went to sleep during the polls.
But granted that was the case; does that give corrupt Electoral Commission officials and the ruling party the justification to massage the figures? Indeed, the fact that one does not have adequate security is not enough justification for another to engage in burglary, is it?
This warped argument reminds me of Abraham Lincoln’s analogy in which he narrated the story of a man who murdered both his parents, but pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan when sentence was about to be pronounced. He who killed his parents wanted to ride on the wings of his crime to plead for clemency. Funny, isn’t it?
I hear my mentor, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, has joined those singing the ‘fa ma Nyame’ chorus. He is not only singing the discordant tune, but also accusing the leadership of his party of the mess the party finds itself in.
Doc, I beg to differ this time. It does not lie in your mouth to tell the party what to do in this situation; more so when you were nowhere to be found in the heat of the campaign. I suspect you are trying to paint the current leadership black so you could wrestle the chair from Wofa Jake in the next contest. We all know you still have your eyes on the chairmanship seat. Come again, doc!
Indeed, peace and justice are bedfellows. Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin. If we really want peace in this country, then we should all not hesitate to call for justice, no matter whose ox is gored.
Contrary to those who believe in the kill-a-cat theory, most of my compatriots have absolute trust in the neutrality of our Judiciary.
But since this is a landmark case, that is if Osono does go to court, it would not be bad at all if the proceedings are televised live for all to watch. After all, justice must not only be done but must be seen to be manifestly done.
By the way, you know Winston Hubert McIntosh aka Peter Tosh, don’t you? He is one Reggae artiste I love so much. His song titled ‘Equal Rights’ was released over three decades ago.
But the lyrics of the song are as relevant today as they were then. Listen to him and sing along if you know the lyrics:
Everyone is crying out for peace
None is crying out for justice
I don’t want no peace
I need equal rights and justice…!
