Hon. John Dramani Mahama, National Democratic Congress running mate for the presidential elections in December says the lack of rule of law is the missing link in bringing peace to Tamale.

He said a culture of impunity reigns over the Northern regional capital following the inactions of the government, through the regional police command which has continually undermined the peace and security of the area.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show to contribute to what should be done to restore and maintain peace in the troubled municipality that has recorded about six deaths and widespread destruction of property following clashes between the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress followers, Hon. John Mahama said the law must be allowed to work to check the infractions in the society.

“Tamale is a peculiar situation, you cannot put Tamale in the same box as you put other places. A lot of the violence that we have seen in the run-up to this particular election is violence related to conducts of primaries and it has been mainly on the NPP side. With Tamale, I think that what is happening is that there is a certain culture of impunity that is developing and that is because government is not applying the law.

“This is not the first time there has been a shooting incident in Tamale. …this is about the fifth time where civilians are firing weapons and if you watch, nobody is ever prosecuted, nobody is ever arrested.”

The Bole Bamboi MP said it is common knowledge in Tamale who the gun owners are, yet “those people seem to be above the law. I am challenging this government that they should let the police force investigate this shooting incident and arrest the people who fired those shots. It’s only when government does that that we will see law and order in Tamale. Some people feel they are above the law in Tamale and so until the government puts its foot down, this will continue to happen.”

Hon John Mahama said sending the military to police the area would be a bit too high-handed, explaining that the police appear to be losing grip of the situation only because they appear not to be allowed to do their job by powers that be. He said if the police were left to do their diligent policing work, they were capable of bringing the situation under control.

“If you remember, I think sometime before the 2004 election, there was an exercise in which a certain young man called Red or something fired shots at a police. He was arrested by the police, he was detained by the police and the Deputy Regional Minister at the time went to the police and took this boy out of custody. The boy was never prosecuted. There was another incident …where a 14-year-old boy was killed. Ask anybody if the person who fired those shots has been prosecuted. You have several firing incidents in Tamale and the people do it and get away with it so what is causing it is a culture of impunity because the police are not executing their duty and why they are not executing their duty they must tell us whether somebody is preventing them from doing so.

Education and the law must work

	Hon. John Mahama, MP for Bole Bamboi and NDC presidential running mate

John Mahama called on political parties, especially the leadership to embark on dialoguing with and education of supporters to drive home the fact that what is at stake in December is a selection of national leaders, a very critical exercise for the nation and should not be marred in any way, let alone violence.

He said the rule of law should prevail and that those responsible for the present case in Tamale should be sought out and prosecuted.

John Mahama called on residents of the affected areas to refrain from any further acts that may worsen the situation. “Our part of the situation is the poorest part of this country and we are the ones that are least able to afford a conflict, because when these conflicts occur one of the major characteristics is the burning of people’s property and so the little property that people have struggled to acquire, they are completely set back when these kind of things happen…its just not on. Let us live life brothers and sisters…It’s an election, you support one party, your brother supports another party and that doesn’t mean you are enemies. Let’s go to the elections, let’s vote and let God’s will prevail. Who God wants to lead this country, let that person emerge and lead us on.”


Story by Isaac Yeboah