POLITICIZING POWER PROBLEMS, PROBLEMATIC; IT REVEALS POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION AND HYPOCRISY IN GHANA – BOMBSHELL OF A BOMBSHELL!

 

POLITICIZING POWER PROBLEMS, PROBLEMATIC; IT REVEALS POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION AND HYPOCRISY IN GHANA – BOMBSHELL OF A BOMBSHELL!

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 20^th December, 2020

My dearest reader, before you continue; I am not trying to create a bad image about any political party or politician. So, I am very real with our current issues here, please. Let us all learn from our past mistakes to help us re-shape our politics for National and International Peace or Unity. Thank you!

 

I.                   INTRODUCTION

The nature of Ghana’s politics of late has been an increasing worry; but for fear that talking about it might tarnish the image of Ghana internationally, most of us have been quite. Unfortunately, from comments from some Ambassadors (Byte, 2019), it is better we rather talk about it to help promote political behavioral change(s) both in the country and the world. From experience, Ghanaians are people who naturally love themselves and foreigners and this is why she has always been described as the beacon of hope of Africa (Booth, 2012)!

The nature of our politics is unfortunately gradually eroding this, where landlords or landladies can sack their tenants because of the party they belong to (Aryee b., 2020; GNA., 2009). The same behavior is transferred into the management of our electricity sector where everything is over politicized (Asare-Donkor, 2015). Though Former President inherited “Dumsor” (erratic supply of electrical power)  (Rupp, 2013) and is able to solve it resulting in excess electrical power production (Sarkodie, 2019; Larnyoh, 2020), he is still constantly tagged as the one who introduced it (Ghanaweb.com(b), 2018). Because of the nature of our current problem, I have said earlier, I am going to be very frank with our energy issues. This is divided into:

v  Appreciating Ghana’s Electricity Problems and the Associated Politics,

v  The Politics of Who Solved Dumsor,

v  Which Political Party Politicizes Issues of National Importance?

v  Is the Energy Sector of Ghana Bad?

v  Conclusion and Recommendations or Suggestions.

II.                Appreciating Ghana’s Electricity Problems and the Associated Politics

Another word that was always used in place of Former President Mahama’s Presidential title is: “Dumsor” (Ibrahim a., 2016; Speaking, 2015)! Any time there is light off you hear people shout: “Eh Mahama!”, whilst some of them would also be asking whether Mahama has come to their place.

Meanwhile the electricity challenge in the country is known even before the regime of Our Dearest Former President; His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour as seen in (Owusu-Adjapong, 2018; Kumi, 2017; Ferdinand, 2015; Speaking, 2015). Between 2006 and 2008, the Akosombo Dam’s water dried below required level needed for regular hydro electrical power production; this has resulted in reduction of electricity coverage from 74% Ghanaians who were using electrical power as at 2004 to 53% Ghanaians in 2008 (Rupp, 2013).

Another problem why Ghana experienced the 2001 energy crisis is the fact that, she was importing oil to help power the generators to produce electricity; and the price per year has risen from $280 (2000) to $500 (2004), even before oil prices were increased globally (Rupp, 2013).

By July 2008, the price of oil for one barrel was almost $133; and before the NDC were voted for in 2008, the energy crisis escalated early that year because of the continued international increase in crude oil price and “increased national demand” for electrical power (Rupp, 2013). The statistical reports of Ghana also revealed that, this problem of crude oil price flying like a bird, reached its peak at $147 for each barrel, May 2008 (Ghana R. , 2009).

Despite this, the problem has always been politicized (Rupp, 2013), which became worst in 2015 (Asare-Donkor, 2015; Speaking, 2015) during Former President Mahama’s regime. The water level at the Akosombo’s Dam reduced again, resulting in a situation where only “Three of the six turbines” of the Dam were working (Quartey, 2017).

However, “Dumsor” has been a problem not only in Ghana but in most Africans’ nations (Anderson, 2013); and though there has been a yearly rising use of electrical power in Ghana (1990s) at a rate of 10% and 15%, there was no simultaneous production of energy (Rupp, 2013). The only available sources were three hydro sources: Akosombo, Kpong, and Bui (Owusu-Adjapong, 2018).

This was worst, as there has been increasing use of electrical power amongst Ghanaians at a rate of almost 52% for more than ten years ‘10yrs’ (2006-2016) (Kumi, 2017; Kumi a., 2020); but Ghanaians were still mostly depending on the ‘Akosombo’ Dam and the Kpong Hydro electrical energy (Owusu-Adjapong, 2018; Kumi, 2017).

Though in 1989 only 15%-20% of Ghanaians were using electricity (Owusu-Adjapong, 2018), residential consumption of electrical power alone rose by a difference of 9%; that is 45% (in 2005) to 54% by 2008 (Ghana R. , 2009). This continued until the commissioning of the 400MW Bui Dam in the later part of 2013 (Okyereh, 2019; Hausermann, 2018; Kumi, 2017).

With these increasing demands above supply (Eshun, 2016), it is not surprising that the country was going through energy crisis in 2006 (Ghana R. , 2009) and 2007 (Ferdinand, 2015; Ghana R. , 2009); since the water level at the Akosombo Dam has also been reducing almost yearly due to low rain full (Kumi a., 2020; Kumi, 2017; Rupp, 2013). Despite that there has been a constant increased in the electrical energy consumption amongst all the class of consumers in Ghana since 2009 (Table 2). This alone can be enough to justify that the crisis was not introduced by Former President Mahama as claimed or politicized.

 

Table 1: Yearly Supply and Consumption of Energy by Ghanaians, 2006-2013 (ktoe)

Year	OIL	Natural Gas	Hydro	Wood	Total
2006	3,815	N.P	472	3,100	6,387
2007	2,017	N.P	337	3,066	6,419
2008	2,672	N.P	510	3,068	6,250
2009	2,316	5	544	3,124	5,989
2010	2,744	394	522	3,206	6,865
2011	2,820	769	598	3,370	7,557
2012	3,870	390	648	3,408	8,316
2013	4,011	292	700	3,553	8,556

Note: N.P stands for No Production. Source: EC., 2014.

 

Table 2: Class of Electrical Power Consumers in Ghana (GWh)

Year	Residential	Non-Residential	Industrial	Street Lights	Total
2009	2,418	884	2,921	184	6,407
2010	2,738	966	3,156	264	7,124
2011	2,761	1,041	3,900	274	7,976
2012	2,803	1,153	4,153	315	8552
2013	3,228	1,525	4,224	377	9355

Source: (ECG., 2014)

This continued increased consumption of electricity by Ghanaians is also confirmed by the Energy Commission of Ghana (ECG) in their statistical report for 2000-2013 (ECG., 2014); for both the yearly consumption (Table 1) and class of consumers (Table 2). This problem pushed his Excellency, Former President Kufour to start searching for alternative means of generating more power to take care of the problem; he therefore revisited the discovery of Bui Dam (1920) and the decision to construct it by cutting the sod (Kwame, 2007).

Despite the new addition, the country reached her “Highest peak” on 29^th December 2015; where citizens were demanding for electrical power more than supply (VRA, 2015; Eshun, 2016). Instead seeing this as a collective problem, it was politicized as a “Devil” that has been introduced in Ghana by Former President Mahama (Ghanaweb.com(a)., 2019)! In 2014, for example, rural electrification has jumped (from 6% in 1990) to approximately 50%, with urbanized areas electricity coverage of 75% to 85% (Trotter, 2016). This high demands for electricity is a reality confirms by yearly records of higher peaks in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 13^th November 2017 (VRA a., 2017; Eshun, 2016; VRA, 2015).

The current report by the (ECG c., 2020) also revealed the same increasing trend in the way Ghanaians are demanding for electrical power (level of consumption) at an increasing rate of 4.3% annually (2018-2019). Though the industries have always been the leading consumers of electrical power; 4,380GWh (63%) in 2000 with residents using 2,026GWh (29.4%), the two top consumers have exchanged their positions in 2019 (ECG c., 2020).

Residents’ consumption in 2019 has risen to 6,357GWh (45.6%), with the industries now using 4,242GWl (30.4%) and it is not because there has been a reduction in the industrial use of electricity as confirmed by the figure (ECG c., 2020). The increased residential use is a reflection of increased electricity coverage (ECG c., 2020; VRA a., 2017; Eshun, 2016; ECG., 2014) and continued population growth (ECG c., 2020; ECG., 2014).

Though some NPP members politicized the “Dumsor” as a problem introduced by Former President Mahama (Ghanaweb.com(a)., 2019), comments like: “No electricity, no vote” (Rupp, 2013) during the 2008 campaigns, confirm that the problem existed before his regime, due to the problems above.

 

III.             The Politics of Who Solved Dumsor

Before, the NDC under Former President Mahama leaves office, the problem of dependence on the West Africa’s Gas Pipeline for oil which was costing the nation millions of dollars is eliminated (Jinapor a., 2018; Kumi, 2017; VRA b., 2016). This alone is something that he and the NDC should have been acknowledged for; since it contributed to the excess electricity that Ghana now produces (VRA a., 2017)!

This excess production electrical energy has also been constantly over politicized though the NDC at the beginning told Ghanaians their intentions to increase the amount of electrical energy that is exported to neighboring nations (Larnyoh, 2020; Jinapor a., 2018). The Former President was always falsely accused as the cause of our problem as seen in 2015 (Laary, 2015) demonstration against “Dumsor” and (Ghanaweb.com(a)., 2019; CitinewsRoom., 2020).

Under normal circumstances since was blamed for the problem, he should have been honored for solving it; since there are evidence that the problem has been solved (Kumi a., 2020; Jinapor a., 2018) with even excess energy production (Larnyoh, 2020; Jinapor a., 2018; Sarkodie, 2019). The current President still claimed to be to the one who solved “Dumsor” (Fullah, 2020; Gyamfi S. , 2020) and is falsely praised (Opoku a., 2020). These behaviors can generate anger since he is not the one who really solved the problem but is rather claiming that honor, as seen in (Gyamfi S. , 2020; Modernghana.com., 2020). Read: “Politicization of Ghana’s Energy Sector, Its Consequences” by the same author for detailed understanding.

 

IV.             Which Political Party Politicizes Issues of National Importance?

From observation, all political parties especially both major political parties in the country are guilty when it comes to politicization of issues of National Importance! Though the Bui Dam’s construction is an excellent move taken by His Excellency Former President John Agyekum Kufour, it was over politicized by some NDC members, like Solomon Nkansah, as a “Stupid project!” (Hausermann, 2018; Adomonline.com(a)., 2015).

One of the strongest reasons that proof that the project is not “Stupid” was the fact that Ghanaians were going through “Electricity crisis” since ‘1982-1984, 1998-2000, 2006-2007’ (Kumi a., 2020; Hausermann, 2018; Kumi, 2017; Ferdinand, 2015). So the cutting of shod in 2007 for the construction of Bui dam (Kwame, 2007) is very important project that should have been welcomed by all Ghanaians; but it was politicized.

After the borders of the Black Volta were closed in 2008 (Statesman, 2008); everything from start to finish is done by the NDC under His Excellency Ex-President John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory (Al-Hajj, 2012). Yet some NPP members still falsely accused Former President Mahama as the one who has brought the cancerous and devilish “Dumsor” into the country (Ghanaweb.com(a)., 2019).

They claimed that dumsor is rather ended by President Akufo-Addo (Opoku a., 2020; Ghanaweb.com(a)., 2019) who has not yet added a single megawatt of electricity to our energy sector by then (Modernghana.com., 2020). Some even go to the extent of warning Ghanaians not to vote for Former President Mahama in the just ended elections, because he would re-introduce “Dumsor” when they vote for him (CitinewsRoom., 2020).

This has forced one of Ghana’s popular celebrities or actresses who organized a campaign against “Dumsor” before the 2016 general elections to come out to debunk those false claims; adding that Former President Mahama is the one who rather solved the “Dumsor” problem but not the latter (Aryee a., 2020). What kind of politics is this? The one who solved our problem, because of political differences is rather seen as our problem! How?

Despite all the wonderful achievements by NDC under Former President Mahama, a writer also still falsely accused him as the one who rather introduced “Dumsor” and did nothing about it (Opoku a., 2020). He poured false praises like rain water on President Akufo-Addo as the one who rather solved Ghana’s power problem, though the Former President performed far better than him; as seen clearly in the neutral reports of (IRENA, 2020), (ECG c., 2020; ECG a., 2018; ECG d., 2016), (IAEA., 2018) and (VRA a., 2017; VRA b., 2016; VRA, 2015).

The President himself, though he knows that “Dumsor” is solved by his Predecessor, still chose to politicize it as revealed by (Yordoso, 2020; Jinapor a., 2018). His Vice who was giving a presentation on the measures that government is taking to curb the COVID-19 Pandemic in the country, suddenly turned the topic into “Dumsor” politics (Happy a., 2020). The surprising aspect is that he himself has acknowledged that the power problem of the country is solved by Former President Mahama (Fullah, 2020; Gyamfi S. , 2020), but added that he does not need to be given any credit for that.

Upon confirming this, he still claimed that the Former First Gentleman is “Incompetent” (Ayamga b., 2020; Obour, 2015). This is where the true nature of politics is exposed! His reputation has being constantly defamed as an incompetent President who is being insulted by everyone as the cause of “Dumsor”! Even children insulted him whilst a sitting President for no offense, but it was considered as normal  (Febiri, 2015). With all his achievements in not only the energy sector and no evidence of crime or murder, he was still falsely and painfully tagged as a: "Bloody Flag Bearer” (Prah, 2019), which very insulting.

 

V.                Is the Energy Sector of Ghana Bad?

Despite the politicization which is masking achievements of political opponents, especially Former President Mahama, Ghana is amongst the best countries in Africa which are offering good electrical services to their citizens. Though she is not doing all that well in renewable energy currently, she is ranked amongst the First Top Ten Nations in Africa leading in renewal energy production (IRENA, 2020). These figures also show that Ghana still has potential of adding more energy to national grid form renewal sources if she so wish.

Though Ghana’s major electrical power is from hydro sources (Owusu-Adjapong, 2018), with the current excess production of electrical power (Sarkodie, 2019; Larnyoh, 2020) she still has the potentials of producing more sustainable electricity from available renewable sources. From observation, using her available natural resources, Ghana is capable of providing electrical power for the whole Africa if there is financial support to do that.

 

VI.             CONCLUSION

Do not politicize any issue of national importance! Let us learn from these past experiences to help us know when to play our usual politics and when we can have a common mind/interest for the interest of the nation and the world. Belonging to a political party is not an end to having a neutral mind on issues of national importance.

 

VII.          Recommendations or Suggestions

For my recommendations or suggestions, wait for a book on these issues!

Thank you for Reading

 

Some References

Adomonline.com(a). (2015). Bui Dam Is A Stupid Project. News, Social, Retrieved from https://m.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/social/201501/230502.php?storyid=100& on 03.02.2021 at 3:02AM.

Al-Hajj, T. (2012). Mills Completes Bui Dam - 1st Power supply Expected in December. General News, Retrieved from https://www.modernghan.com/news/393785/mills-completes-bui-dam-1st-power-expecte.html on 06.12.2020 at 7:50PM.

Anderson, T., B., & Dalgaard, C., -J. (2013). Power Outages and Economic Growth in Africa. Energy Econ, 38(C): 19-23. Doi: 10.1016/j.eneco.2013.02.016.

Aryee b., N. A. (2020). Landlord Ejects Woman and Her Children in new Video for Refusing to Vote for NDC. Video, Ghana Politics News Online, Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/yen.com.gh/amp/178007-landlord-throws-woman-children-refusing-vote-ndc-html on 26.02.2021 at 2:05AM.

Aryee a., N. A. (2020). Mahama fixed dumsor – Yvonne Nelson says; confesses to why she led dumsor vigil. News, Politics, Retrieved from https://yen.com.gh/176601-yvonne-nelson-mahama-fixed-dumsor-handing-power-akufo-addo.html on 19.11.2020 at 5:10PM.

Asare-Donkor, F. (2015). Playing the ‘dumsor’ football. Feature, Opinions, Retrieved from https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/playing-the-dumsor-football.html on 03.02.2021 at 2:40AM.

Ayamga b., E. (2020). I Stand By My ‘Incompetent Mahama’ Comment – Bawumia. Local News, Retrieved from https://www.pulse.com.gh/news/local/mahamudu-bawumia-i-stand-by-my-incompetent-mahama-comment/7wkb8fn on 25.01.2021 at 6:45AM.

Byte, N. S. (2019). ‘As An Atheist, It Intrigues Me That for A Strongly Christian Country Corruption Is Such A Big Problem In Ghana’ – Autralian High Commissioner Calls Out Ghanaian Religious Hypocrisy. News, Religion, Retrieved from https://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2019/09/26/as-an-atheist-it-intrigues-me-that-for-a-strongly-christian-country-corruption-is-such-a-big-problem-in-ghana-australian-high-commissioner-calls-out-ghanaian-religious-h.../ on 03.01.2021, 11:39PM.

Booth, D. (2012). Ghana Election: A Beacon of Hope? Comment, Retrieved from https://www.odi.org/blogs/7175-ghana-election-beacon-hope on 26.02.2021 at 2:57AM.

CitinewsRoom. (2020). Ghanaians Charged to Reject ‘Dumsor’ Mahama and NDC. News, Headlines, Retrieved from https://www.modernghana.com/news/1029627/ghanaians-charged-to-reject-dumsor-mahama-and.html on 03.02.3021 at 5:10AM.

ECG a., Energy Commission Ghana. (2018). 2018 Energy (Supply and Demand) Outlook for Ghana. Accra: ECG.

ECG c., Energy Commission Ghana. (2020). National Energy Statistics 2000-2019: Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate April, 2020. Accra: ECG.

ECG d., Energy Commission Ghana. (2016). 2016 Energy (Supply and Demand) Outlook for Ghana, Final. Accra: ECG.

ECG., Energy Commission Ghana. (2014). National Energy Statistics 2000-2013: Final Draft. Accra: ECG.

Eshun, M., E., & Amoako-Tuffour, J. (2016). A Review of the Trends in Ghana's Power Sector. Energy, Sustainability & Society, 5: 1-9. Doi: 10.1186/s13705-016-0075-y.

Febiri, C. -V. (2015). VIDEOS: About 3 Year Old Girl Insults President Mahama “Potoor” + Another Says He Is Just the Caretaker of the Northerners – My Take on the Increasing Insults. Blog Post, Retrieved from https://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2015/04/04/videos-about-3-year-old-girl-insults-president-mahama-potoor-another-says-he-is-just-the-caretaker-of-the-northerners-my-take-on-the-increasing-insults/ on 19.07.16 at 11:52PM and 13.06.19 at 1:45.

Ferdinand, T. (2015). Bui Hydroelectricity Power Dam Project in Ghana. EJOLT Factsheet, 25: 1-4.

Fullah, G. (2020). Mahama Solved Dumsor but Deserves No Credit for that – Bawumiah [VIDEO]. Politics, Retrieved from https://www.ghanawish.com/mahama-solved-dumsor-but-deserves-no-credit-for-that-bawumia-video/ on 03.02.2021 at 4:50AM.

 

 

DEALING WITH THE OBSTACLES OF LOVE TO LOVE FOR PEACE

DEALING WITH THE OBSTACLES OF LOVE TO LOVE FOR PEACE

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 24.02.2021

FIRST OBSTACLE OF LOVE, DESTRUCTION OF DIGNITY

One of the natural gifts that qualify everyone for Love is “dignity” (Kadivar et al., 2018; Nordenfelt, 2004)! All human beings have this free gift right from birth, in that we are all created in “The image” (Genesis, 1:26, KJV 1611; Elias, 2018) and “likeness”  (Genesis, 1:26, KJV 1611) of God. Aside this reality, Nordenfelt, (2004) has also revealed that this dignity that we all have “Dignity of Menschenwürde” can be enhanced based on “Merit” (one’s status in life), morality, and “Identity”. The word “Menschenwürde” which is German origin is talking about the dignity that everyone has because he/she is a human being (Nordenfelt, 2004).

This dignity qualifies every human being for the basic human rights (Andorno, 2009) that we need in order live on this without fear. However, ones status in life comes with added enhancement for his/her already existing dignity (Merit) and that is also the reason why though we all deserve the same respect, some people are more respected. Exanmple, though we all have the same dignities and basic human rights that demands that we must all be respected, a President because of his or her office is highly respected by all irrespective of his/her age.

This makes the “Merit” dignity similar to the dignity that one has because of his/her identity. A president of any nation, because of the office that he/she occupies, comes with a specific identity. Example, the moment one mentions “Biden”, even if you are not referring to the President of the US; everyone will be thinking about the President Elect of the US, His Excellencey President Joe Biden (Staff, 2020). His office has which he occupies based on merit has given him a specific identity.

Because dignity is mostly associated with love, saboteurs always target the identity of their victims. This makes “Identity Dignity” (Nordenfelt, 2004) the most abused of all the dignities! Sometimes saboteurs also target the morality of their victim too, because these two can be taken away from you through the way others treat you. Example, some people can intentional humiliate you not because you done something wrong, but because their target is your “Dignity” (Kadivar et al., 2018; Nordenfelt, 2004). Identity dignity can also be abused during pandemics like COVID-19 (Singh & Subedi, 2020). Though sickness does not take away ones naturally born dignity “Dignity of Menschenwürde” (Nordenfelt, 2004), it comes with some specific identity and this determine how such people are treated. This is one of the reason why most pandemics are always associated increased discrimination and stigma like in this current pandemic, COVID-19 (Singh & Subedi, 2020).

Bibliography

Andorno, R. (2009). Human Dignity and Human Rights as a Common Ground for a Global Bioethics. J Med Philos, 34: 223-240. Doi: 10.1093/jmp/jhp023.

Elias, A. A. (2018). People are Created in the Image of Allah. Worship, Retrieved from https://abuaminaelias.com/pge-of-allah/ on 09.02.2021 at 11:04PM.

Genesis. (1:26, KJV 1611). THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES CALLED, GENESIS. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command. (p. 5). London: Cambridge University Press.

Kadivar, M., Mardani-Hamooleh, M., & Kouhnavard, M. (2018). Concept Analysis of Human Dignity in Patient Care: Rodgers' Evolutionary Approach. J Med Ethics Hist Med, 11:4. .

Nordenfelt, L. (2004). The Varieties of Didnity. Health Care Anal, 12(2): 69-81. Doi: 10.1023/B:HCAN.0000041183.78435.4b.

Singh, R., & Subedi, M. (2020). COVID-19 and stigma: Social discrimination towards frontline healthcare providers and COVID-19 recovered patients in Nepal. Asian J Psychiatr, 53: 102222. Doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102222.

Staff, T. (2020). America Reacts to Joe Biden’s Election, with Jubilation, Relief, and Defiance. Politics, Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-11-07/biden-wins-election-reaction on 08.12.2020 at 6:20PM.

 

LOVE TO NEUTRALIZES THE 4 CANCEROUS WORDS OF OUR 21ST CENTURY’S WORLD

 

LOVE TO NEUTRALIZES THE QUADRUPLE CANCEROUS WORDS OF OUR 21^ST CENTURY’S WORLD

Written on 12.02.2021

This is a continuation of the Quadruple Cancerous Words of Our 21st Century's World. Those who did not read the previous post might not understand this one. So, I have listed those words at the end of this post to help them. Readers who may want detailed understanding should kindly visit my Facebook's Wall and Page (Love Life, Love Peace and Hate War). I will organize them as a full article and post them here for readers when I get time. Thank you!

Though monozygotic twins are mostly found to be similar, there are times that they can also be phenotypically different, like most dizygotic twins (Barnes-Davis  & Cortezzo, 2019; Ahmadzadeh et al., 2019; Kaminsky et al., 2009). Even twins, whether monozygotic or dizygotic, see things differently or have different opinions/perceptions (Vauclair et al., 2016) depending on their environment(s) in life (Larsen et al., 2019). But these differences cannot change the genes in them if they were genotypically the same (Larsen et al., 2019). In the same even people like twins who grow up in the same environment, can still not see “91” (Team, 2017; Azad, 2019) and understand it the same way; depending on how they look at it or see it. This same “91” might be seen as “16” by different people! This can generate serious disagreement between people, because, depending how each of them turn and look at it, they are all rights based on what they see and the understanding that they attach to what they see! In situations like this, logic cannot solve the problem, but love can do! People can always justify why they discriminate against and stigmatize some people, but the only thing that can always offer a common ground is love. The other five magical words of peace: “Patriotism” (Gangl et al., 2016), “Responsibility” (Levy, 2019), “Respect” (Beach et al., 2017), “Forgiveness” (VanderWeele, 2018), and “Tolerance” (Verkuyeten et al., 2019) are all fruits of love! We cannot be nice to others the way we want them to be nice to us (Matthew 7:12), if there is no love. The stigma that is always attached to most pandemics like HIV/AIDs (Krier et al., 2020; Reyes-Estrada et al., 2018) or COVID-19 (Grover et al., 2020; Demirtaş-Madran, 2020) could be eliminated or reduced, if we always allow love (Matthew 22:34-40) to lead us. As we are still in the month of love, remember that, “Love” which is the first 6 magical words of peace, can help us neutralize the 4 cancerous words (sabotage, intolerance, discrimination, and stigma) of our 21^st Century’s World for PEACE. Thank you for Reading!

References

Ahmadzadeh, Y., I., Eley, T., C., Plomin, R., Dale, P., S., Lester, K., J., Oliver, B., R., McMillan, A., & McAdams, T., A. (2019). Children of the Twins Early Development Study (CoTEDS): A Children-of-Twins Study. Twin Res Hum Genet, 22(6): 514-522. Doi: 10.1017/thg.2019.61.

Azad, G. (2019). A Numerologist's Analysis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Article, Retrieved from http://www.businessworld.in/article/A-Numerologist-s-Analysis-Of-Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi-/16-03-2019-168110/ on 30.12.2020 at 11:16PM.

Barnes-Davis, M., E., & Cortezzo, D., E. (2019). Two Cases of Atypical Twinning: Phenotypically Discordant Monozygotic and Conjoined Twins. Clin Case Rep, 7:920-925. Doi: 10.1002/ccr3.2113.

Beach, M., C., Branyon, E., & Saha, S. (2017). Diverse patient perspective on respect in healthcare: A qualitative study. Patient Educ Couns, 100(11): 2076-2080. Doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.05.010

Demirtaş-Madran, H., A. (2020). Exploring the Motivation Behind Discrimination and Stigmatization Related to COVID-19: A Social Psychological Discussion Based on the Main Theoretical Explanations. Front Psychol, 11:569528. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.569528.

Gangl, K., Torgler, B., & Kirchler, E. (2016). Patriotism's Impact on Cooperation with the State: An Experimental Study on Tax Compliance. olit Psychol, 37(6): 867-881. Doi: 10.1111/pops.12294

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FEAR THE BIGGEST VIRUS THAN COVID-19: JUBILATE RESPONSIBLY!

 FEAR THE BIGGEST VIRUS THAN COVID-19: JUBILATE RESPONSIBLY!

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 01.12.2020

Political violence is like any infectious disease COVID-19, that is no respecter of person (Niriwa, 2020)! But it is dangerous than COVID-19 or any infectious disease (Fig. 1A), because of its unpleasant or negative impacts (FGVP, 2011; Kesternich et al., 2014). It can kill (Hargarten, 2018; Wilson, 2014) and make thousands homeless (Oppenheimer et al., 2016; Riley et al, 2014) within just a blink of an eye than being infected with SARS-CoV-2 (Meyerowitz et al., 2020). Though COVID-19 can give you about three to five days to write your will before death, political violence will not give you even five (5) minutes to do that; as seen in places that were/are hit by violence (Amao, 2020; Reques et al., 2020; Oosterveld & Torossian, 2018). Though it is good to be continuously observing the COVID-19 protocols, its consequences cannot be compared to that of political violence in any affected country (Amao, 2020; Daw et al., 2019; Oosterveld & Torossian, 2018).

One of the ways that we can invite political violence is when we are intolerant, discriminate against each other based on party’s colors and continuously lie or insult each other leading to political hatred. For COVID-19 we need to continuously maintain social distance; practice personal hygiene like washing our hands under clean running water or sanitizing them with 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizers; wear clean and untorn face masks (Tartari et al., 2020; CDC, 2020); eat (Draver, 2020) and rest or sleep (Draver, 2020; Watson, 2015) well to build strong immunities to save ourselves and others. COVID-19 Prevention Protocols were mostly ignored (Fig. 1B) during the political campaigns as revealed by (Agyei, 2020; HotNewsgh., 2020) which is a very big mistake in “our physical preparation to prevent COVID-19 transmission” (Niriwa b., 2020). Ignoring it again during our jubilation or celebration of victory would be worst! Violating these protocols as revealed by this pandemic add up to the bad practices in politics that put the lives of people at risk.  

David Lipe is known for saying that: “Opinions are like noses – everybody’s got one and they’re all different!” (Sproulre, 2014), but opinions are educational tools too. Opinions from our daily life realities are true and cannot be disputed, though they differ from how everyone see them. The existence of God or prayers which almost all religions accept (Andrade & Radharkrishnan, 2009) is an excellent example; though we have different believes/opinions about who He is or how we should worship or pray to Him (Nicholson, 2017). These different believes or opinions about God rather confirm the fact that He exists – not that He does not. Politics is like opinions that can be likened to the letters or words, “p” (pee) or “d” (dee), “NO” or “ON” (Dictionary.com., 2020; Dictionary.com(b)., 2020), “SOW” or “WOS” (Landau, 2018). The way we turn or look at each of them; determines how it looks, what it means, and its value! The letters “p” or “d” can begin words related to peace or violence like: People, Peace, Pieces (Word.tips, 2020) and Demeanor, Dance, Death. The demeanor of people is what will tell whether there is going to peace for us to dance (celebrate), or violence that would lead to death (Modernghana.com., 2020) or tearing ourselves into pieces. Let us say NO to pieces or death and welcome peace and dance by tolerating each other.

Figure 1: Political Violence Is Dangerous than Any Disease

NO, though is an exclamation (Dictionary.com., 2020) that we use to reveal how negatively we feel; through our responses or actions and inactions, can also be a positive reply that opposes intolerances or violence. When this same word is turned upside down, it becomes “ON”. To promote tolerance during celebration of any victory, let us turn off the negative “NO” (Vinkers et al., 2015) that opposes good things. We should turn “ON” the positive “NO” (Vinkers et al., 2015), that opposes bad things and agrees with good things, to say “NO” to any actions/inactions that would make us intolerant to our opponents or others. It is also like the numbers, “9” or “6”.

Using the word “SOW” would means differently depending on how it is used, such as: “Statement of Work” (Landau, 2018) or with a literal meaning, to: “Plant (seed) by scattering it on or in the earth”. The kind of seed that we “SOW” and how well we take care of that seed determines whether the end result would be a positive or negative “WOS” (Web of Knowledge”, “SOW” (Statement of Work) or “NO”. Likened politics to the numbers: “9” or “6”. The way you view any of them is how you see it (how it looks), thereby determining how you react to your opponents or others, and the value(s) (Hurts, 2013-2020) that you attach to it. Using all single digit numbers form zero (0) to nine (9), the most valuable is 9; “9 tenths or 9/10” (Hurts, 2013-2020).

Let us SOW good seeds, turn off the negative “NO” and turn “ON” the positive “NO” or “ON” to make Politics valuable “9”: but not valueless “6”! From life’s experience, the magical words of peace to avoid any violence are: Love, Patriotism, Tolerance, Respect, Responsibility and Forgiveness. These are the same words that we can use to make politics valuable “9”. The moment we make a mistake and replace them with hatred, unpatriotic, intolerance, disrespect, irresponsibility, and unforgiveness; we are going to make politics less valuable “6”. They are the words that we are supposed to put in our minds and use them to water the seed(s) that we have sown, if we are having ONE COMMON INTEREST – the development of Mother Ghana in PEACE. This will make Mother Ghana a Woman of Substance “WOS” and avoid us from being surrounded by a Wall of Shame “WOS” that will lead us to Walks of Shame “WOS”.

Celebration of any victory is not wrong! The question is how do we celebrate our victories? Some few minutes after Ghana’s General Elections are over; some supporters started jubilating and, in the process, two (2) of them joined the heavenly choir (Modernghana.com., 2020). As you celebrate, you should know that COVID-19 is now our close friend who is always read to mingle with us – whether invited or uninvited. This is one of the reasons why we have to be careful with how we celebrate. Celebration of victory does not mean disregard to COVID-19 Prevention Protocols like social or physical distancing.

There are also six (6) magical words or oil of peace that can help us have a peaceful celebration: “Love” (Matthew, 22: 34-40, KJV. 1611 ), “Patriotism” (Gangl et al., 2016), “Responsibility” (Levy, 2019), “Respect” (Beach et al., 2017), “Forgiveness” (VanderWeele, 2018), and “Tolerance” (Verkuyeten et al., 2019). A politician that enters into politics to serve his/her nation is loving and tolerant by nature; the one who is in to for personal political fame or wealth is intolerant (Crawford & & Pilanski, 2013). All the remaining words five (5) are borne from love: they also lead to love! Born at the days when the celebration of political victory is always full of “insults” or teasing of the “loosing” opponent(s), our modern democracy should view it with a different eye (Sharma, 2020). To be able to do easily, all the six (6) magical of words or oils of peace must used be applied.

Celebration of political victory does not mean irresponsible with your life, word, action or inaction, intolerance, and disrespect, to political opponents. In the celebration of Americans’ elections’ victory, some words that are not supposed to have been used were used (Staff, 2020).  Statements like: “Trump just made OK to be racist” (Staff, 2020) were not necessary as they can create division amongst the citizens. Once an election is over and the winner won through fair means and been has been genuinely declared, the next think thing we should think about is to forgive each other and be united. This cannot be possible without patriotism or love our country and colleague citizens.

Recommendations or Suggestions

v  To be able to overcome any biggest virus called political violence, as we celebrate, we must put these magic words of peace: Love, Patriotism, Responsibility, Respect, Forgiveness, and Tolerance in our minds and apply them.

v  A win by any of the candidates should be seen as a win for the nation, if that candidate wins genuinely.

v  Behaviors (actions/inactions) like hate speeches, insults, carrying of coffin branded by a particular political party or candidate, names calling, and so on must be avoided.

v  Most people drink alcohol excessively or take in hard narcotics like cocaine, heroin, Indian herbs, and so on. All these can have negative effects on your behavior and must be avoided during celebration.

v  Avoid bad peer influence! Most people insult or use abusive words because they have been negatively influenced by friends, colleagues or family members.

v  Flee anyone who tries to use abusive words on or insults anyone!

v  The politics of winner takes all which makes it look as if losing is death sentence is one of the reasons that trigger intolerance and insults amongst opponents. As our world becomes more democratic, politicians should start thinking of how best they can include opponents in public officers.

v  To help reduce politics of insults or political hate speeches, we must say NO to politics of deceptions and lies that put anger in opponents.

v  All national general elections’ victory should be a nation, but not by a winning political party.

Thank you for Reading!

 

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