INTEMPERATE POLITICAL LANGUAGE, NO CEASEFIRE IN SIGHT (PAGE 12, FEB 19, 2011)

IN spite of calls on politicians to be measured in their language, a top politician in the country believes political rhetoric is rather heading towards the gutter.
Mr Boakye Agyarko, who is the Campaign Manager of the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2012 general elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, told news reporters in Tamale that he does not see the possibility of an end to indecent political language.
He said he holds this opinion because the use of foul language by politicians is precipitated by the actions of opponents in the political contest, which are considered unpalatable.
He therefore concluded in Twi that: “Se gyae ye en gyae ye-a, gyae ka nsu en gyae ka,” which in English implies that: if those who act (wrongly) do not stop acting as such, those who talk (wrongly) would in similar vain not stop talking.
Mr Agyarko was answering questions from reporters at the sidelines of an inaugural rally by the Danquah Ladies Club, a sub-group in the NPP that is emerging with the goal of rallying women towards victory for Nana Addo in the 2012 elections.
Like some other commentators in the NPP had done, Mr Agyarko defended Nana Addo’s infamous “All die be die” comment, listing a litany of events which he considered as violent attacks on supporters of the NPP.
He stressed that the NPP was very prepared to go the limit with any other party if it was provoked, adding that “Life is what it is. If the fight is in the gutter, then that is where the fight is.”
Mr Agyarko described commentators who called for a ceasefire in the use of intemperate language by politicians as hypocrites.
“Where were they when Tony Aidoo christened the 17 presidential aspirants for our 2008 primaries as 17 thieves? I was one of the candidates,” he stated.
“How many times have Nana Addo not been insulted, and who came out to call for a ceasefire,” he added.
The NPP’s campaign manager also alleged that the government had engaged in certain illegalities that gave the impression that it was preparing its party supporters for violence during the electioneering.
He mentioned, for instance, the launch of a Heroes Fund by the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, which, in his estimation, was to cater for party foot-soldiers who will be injured during the campaign.
He also alleged the tapping of his telephone conversations, describing as an act of intimidation.
Mr Agyarko reiterated the NPP’s willingness to engage in free and fair elections because the party had confidence in its ability to wrestle the seat of government from the NDC in the 2012 elections, due its campaign message.
“Our message is simple. The NDC campaigned on several promises, but failed to meet these promises when it won power. So, the era of the NDC can simply be described as promises made, promises failed,” he remarked.