Ghana's chiefs urge calm

The Forum was convened by Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin III

By Kwaku Sakyi-Addo in Accra

Ghana's traditional leaders have taken action against a spate of violent incidents over December's general and presidential elections.

Modern and ancient political authorities came face to face at a Forum for Peace organised by chiefs, with political party leaders as the main guests.

When the chief has had his bath, there's no water left for anyone else

Proverb

The chiefs issued a declaration admonishing all sides equally.

Paramount chiefs from seven out of the ten administrative regions of Ghana were at the forum, initiated by Osagyefuo (the Warrior) Amoatia Ofori Panin III, paramount chief of the ancient kingdom of Abuakwa.

Three out of seven presidential candidates attended the Forum including the candidate of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Atta-Mills.

If there's war, you the politicians will take your passports and run away

Na Banamini Sandu

John Kufuor of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not attend, but was represented by a delegation led by the party chairman, Mr. Odoi-Sykes.

The other presidential candidates were represented by their running mates.

Politicians silenced

For once the politicians were not allowed to speak - they had to listen for a change.

It was an occasion for traditional wisdom to be heard, while partisan speeches took a break.

The NDC presidential candidate is John Atta Mills

Chief after chief reprimanded, as well as exhorted, all political sides alike with the even-handedness of sages.

"If there's war, you the politicians will take your passports and run away," said Na Banamini Sandu, speaking for chiefs of the Upper West Region.

"But our tradition does not permit a chief to flee in the face of war, so we and our people will suffer, so we have to speak to you now."

Future generations

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin brought the hall to its feet with an impassioned speech about political responsibility: "It is not for ourselves that we worry," he said.

"It is about the little children, and the children that are waiting to be born, and the old folks who're sick and struggling to get care.

They hope that theirs would be the last word that silences the rumbling of the war drum, and replaces it with songs of peace

"But whether this country will stand or fall, that depends on us all."

They signed a declaration, the Osu Declaration, named for the Accra suburb which was the venue of the forum.

The declaration asked all the candidates to be civilised in their campaigns; for the electoral commission to be fair, and the police and armed forces to be "impartial and independent."

Chiefs criticised

Ghana's traditional chiefs are generally well-respected.

However, they have also over the years been harshly criticised as being sometimes apathetic in the face of political turmoil.

Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwah II, who represented the Eastern Region, sought to defend the chieftaincy institution, with a proverb that says "when the chief has had his bath, there's no water left for anyone else."

That means it is inappropriate for chiefs to rush to speak first, because once they have spoken no one else's opinion counts for much.

"And so sometimes we may seem apathetic, but we must listen first to our subjects before we can pronounce a verdict or give advice," he said.

Now that the chiefs have spoken, they hope that theirs would be the last word that silences the rumbling of the war drum, and replaces it with songs of peace.