By Jake Obestebi-Lamptey
The New Patriotic Party joins the rest of democrats across the
world to share the joy of the people of Egypt who have used
peaceful democratic action to begin the fundamental process of
deepening democracy in the African state resulting in the
resignation of President Hosni Mubarak last Friday. The
peaceful, courageous and unyielding tenacity with which the
protestors enforced their democratic demand has come as a timely
inspiration to those who value democracy in Africa and beyond
and a clear warning to those who do not.
The principled protestors of Tunisia and Egypt, mostly youths,
have sent a very important message to false democracies across
the world. The message to us all is that the people would not
forgive those who toy with their demands for democracy. Africa
began the year 2011 with 26 scheduled elections, 19 of them
presidential contests. Tunisia held a presidential election just
a few months ago which saw the incumbent Ben Ali winning by a
controversial landslide. Egypt held their version of a
controversial parliamentary election last year which saw the
ruling party winning almost all the seats. The country was due
for a presidential contest later this year.
But, the fact that the people still went ahead to demand the
removal of their heads of state and for constitutional reforms
only attest to the discredited nature of the ‘democracy’ that
the people were forced to endure before 2011. The people would
no longer tolerate dictatorship dressed up in the garb of
pseudo-democracy. This strong message must resonate below the
Sahara, too. Other African leaders must not slack in the
necessary process of consolidating democracy on our continent.
The events in both Tunisia and Egypt have reaffirmed faith in
the universal values of freedom and democracy, the very
principles which have guided the New Patriotic Party and its
political tradition since our beginnings, 64 years ago.
WE SALUTE THE COURAGEOUS YOUTHS OF TUNISIA AND EGYPT
It is also instructive that the youths of the two North African
countries chose the path of peaceful resistance and
demonstrations to register their ultimate protest to a regime
they found repressive. The people stood up courageously against
the threat of guns, firebombs and stones in defence of their
fundamental rights and democracy. Our heart goes out to the
family and friends of the heroes who lost their lives or
suffered injuries in the course of these critical events. They
have made the ultimate patriotic sacrifice for a brighter future
for the two nations. For a party like the NPP, which in the
early part of the Fourth Republic, led by lawyers such as the
late Peter Ala Adjetey and Akufo-Addo (our current flagbearer),
got the Supreme Court to rule that Ghanaians are free to
demonstrate without prior permission from the Police, we welcome
this remarkable expression of legitimate public protest.
Also, the NPP sends a special commendation to the armies of the
two countries. They stood on the side of the people. They did
not fire shots in anger against the very people that they had
sworn to protect. This is a strong message to other security
forces in the rest of Africa, especially.
WHAT NEXT?
Our concern, however, is what next? The wishes of the people of
the two Arab nations must be respected and fulfilled. They want
true democracy. Any political settlement that emerges from this
must respect the true tenets of multiparty democracy, buttressed
by a free, fair and transparent electoral process. Also, strong
demands for a new society of economic opportunities must be met.
We would plead with the Egyptian army and the transitional
regime in Tunisia, as well, to be active in facilitating and
allowing true democracy to take root. They should not allow
their established self-interests to stand in the way of this new
wave of freedom. In Egypt, for instance, no one with a civilian
background has led the country since the foundation of the
modern republic in 1952. We appeal to the military not to serve
as a hindrance to the energy of pro-democracy that the people
have unleashed spontaneously onto the country. Let the army not
use the excuse of the absence of strong civil institutions to
delay the broadly demanded transition to real democratic rule.
The process for constitutional reforms, tearing down the
instruments of oppression, freeing up the democratic space and
preparing for both presidential and parliamentary elections must
begin now in earnest. With sincere commitments from the current
temporary custodians of the two countries, there is no reason
why fresh elections cannot be held this year.
Crucially, the kind of moderation and nationalism shown by the
protestors of the two Arab states must be carefully driven to
determine the path of their future democracies.
A CLEAR MESSAGE TO OTHER AFRICAN STATES
What has happened in Cairo and Tunis have not been lost on the
rest of Africa and the Arab world. How the caretaker regimes in
the two nations handle the transition should influence greatly
the fate of democracy in the two regions. Let them show that
religion, tradition, stability, peace, unity, progress and
democracy can co-exist and compliment each other.
Let a transparent ballot box justify both the Jasmine and Nile
Revolutions. Let the people of Africa have free, fair and
transparent elections and let those who are elected serve the
people with integrity and show greater commitment in addressing
the concerns of the people.
We call on the African Union and democratic allies of the two
nations to help the two countries to succeed in this necessary
transition to bring true democracy to their peoples. The
fundamental principles of the rule of law, liberal democracy,
democratic accountability, human rights, individual and civil
liberties, free enterprise and social justice must be the
guiding principles of this transition and the governance
programme thereafter.
The NPP stands on the right side of freedom, democracy and
prosperity. We wish the two countries and their peoples a
brighter future. May the blessings of Allah always be with them.
Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey
The writer is the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party.
