Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt, has made mockery of the assertion that Ghana’s democracy is advancing.
He says fall-outs from the just ended Talensi by-election which was marred by violence is a clear indication that Ghana has a long way to go in its democratic.
Persons including the first Vice National Chairman and National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay and Abankwa Yeboah respectively allegedly sustained injuries when they were attacked by pro-NDC group, ‘Azorka Boys’.
The NDC also accused pro- NPP group “Bolga Bull Dogs” of assaulting NDC members who were embarking on their legitimate duty while the election was underway.
There were also reports of gun shots and vandalism of property by persons who were not immediately identified.
Pratt who condemned the violence noted that such unfortunate incidents should not be happening in Ghana’s democracy which is touted as reference point for other countries in the sub-region.
“I laugh when I hear people saying Ghana has a growing democracy, you call this a growing democracy? We hold a by-election in just one constituency and there is such violence, we should be ashamed of ourselves as a country,” he said on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
Kwasi Pratt added that countries all over the world with true growing democracy hold elections devoid of such mayhem as was recorded in Talensi.
“I’ve been to Cuba as an election observer and you don’t find a single policeman at any of their polling centres. No gun, no truncheons but rather primary school pupils are taught to be polling agents and they do a perfect job. You go to other countries and the Interior Minister is an election officer, but even with that the opposition parties don’t raise any suspicions”
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