Former Attorney General Martin Alamisi Amidu has condemned the political elite for leveraging conflicts like the Bawku crisis to enrich themselves and secure electoral advantage, describing them as “merchants of conflict.”
In his article, Amidu lamented, “Whilst the people who constitute the sovereign electorate in the conflict area are killing themselves as a result of the preventable resurgence of conflict, the political elite have become merchants of conflict and violence benefitting from the public funds appropriated for the alleged maintenance of peace.”
He criticised the government’s inability to ensure security in conflict zones, including Bawku and other hotspots, accusing the ruling party of prioritising political gains over the safety of citizens.
“Citizens from both sides of the conflict are maimed and killed without Ghanaians being told of the official numbers killed and maimed.
“Ghana has become the private property of political parties and their merchants of conflict political elites,” Amidu asserted.
Amidu detailed the deteriorating situation in Bawku, where curfews, heightened security measures, and distrust between the adversaries have created a humanitarian crisis.
“The inhabitants of the Bawku town centre are unable to purchase gas for cooking…Consequently, the security agencies have become conduits collecting the gas cylinders from the township to purchase gas for the inhabitants,” he wrote.
He pointed out that partisan manipulation has infiltrated even the security apparatus, noting suspicions that government vehicles are being used to ferry party supporters.
“The Regional Minister…ought to be conscious of the fact that when he is suspected of using armoured vehicles to convey party supporters…suspicions around him multiply even within the security agencies in such a conflict environment,” Amidu warned.
The former Special Prosecutor lamented the erosion of constitutional values, saying, “The 1992 Constitution has been turned into an instrument for zombifying the electorate to vote on sentiments and not achievements.
Honour and integrity have been thrown out of the window of Ghanaian politics.”
Amidu urged Ghanaians to scrutinize the government’s record on human security and hold leaders accountable as they prepare to vote.
“The rhetoric of development must be supported by the deed of maintaining the human security of the sovereign electorate to win the vote on 7 December 2024,” he concluded.
