Boot for Boot is Free Speech: Rwanda in Ghana
Many Ghanaians have reacted to recent comments by Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture. While addressing NPP supporters in the Eastern Region, he said that his party will use every means to ensure it remains in government at all cost.
NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 elections, we will let them know that we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We will have the men. It will never happen that we, NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost
He is not the first politician to incite violence with words but his comments are recent and an example of how violence could be incited. Party supporters as usual have defended him, and that seems to be the case every time a politician incites violence in Ghana.
Yes, there is freedom of speech as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, but according to Article 12(2) of the same Constitution, these freedoms are subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest.
The Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda
Ethnic tension between the two major ethnic groups in Rwanda was nothing new. There had always been disagreements between the Hutus, the majority and the Tutsis, the minority. In fact it had been like that since the colonial era.
By 1990, Rwanda experienced a rise of the supremacist doctrine of Hutus over the Tutsis. The president, Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, upheld this doctrine and used it to stay in power. He limited the positions of the Tutsis in public offices. Some members of the Hutu tribe tried to end the supremacy campaign but to no avail.
On April 6, 1994, the president was killed when his plane was shot down, and that was the beginning of the genocide.
The Blame Game Began
The Hutu extremists began to blame the Tutsis for the death of the president. They initiated a campaign of retribution. The main tool was the media, specifically the radio station, Radio Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM). The Hutus used the infamous RTLM to incite violence.
It must be noted that the radio station was perceived as a reliable source of information by citizens.
They urged people to ‘weed out the cockroaches’ which meant Hutus should kill the Tutsis. The names of people to be killed were mentioned out loud on the radio station.
The Tutsis were positioned as a dangerous, inferior minority group who must be killed. They were seen as a threat to the nation.
The graves are half empty; who will help us fill them
They started killing leaders of the opposition and Tutsis.
Military officers visited houses just to kill Tutsis. People were forced to kill their neighbours, friends and even family members who were Tutsis. Hutus who refused to kill Tutsis were also slaughtered.
It was the duty of every Hutu to kill a Tutsi and so participation was widespread.
The Genocide lasted for three months and it is estimated that, about one million people were slaughtered.
Can Rwanda be in Ghana?
Whether or not the genocide in Rwanda could happen in Ghana depends on Ghanaians. Ghanaians know the answer.
The Hutus and the Tutsis can be compared to NDC and NPP in Ghana or any other political party in Ghana.
The media was trusted as a reliable source of information in Rwanda just as the politicians in Ghana have influence. Politicians have followers or supporters who believe and trust in everything they say.
Freedom of speech should be wide and open as long as it does not incite violence (Mark Leech).
Ghanaians need to be vigilant against propaganda.
Always remember Rwanda.
