The year 2012 is a very critical year in the Ghanaian political history by virtue of the fact that it is an election year. By and large, the elections are drawing closer and the tension in the political landscape as expected is on the ascendancy.
Ghanaians in December will go to the polls to elect a new president and parliamentarians to manage the affairs of the state for another four years. In the wake of the heated political campaigns by the various political parties to canvass for votes, the “youth” who fall between the ages of 18 to 45 are relied on or for want of a better word, used as “tools” to achieve this aim.
The role of the youth in campaigning for political parties has not been too positive in the past years under the fourth republic. The youth have been accused all over the place for engaging in violent acts during political parties’ campaign and on voting days. The youth have been accused of stealing ballot boxes with ballot papers, creating confusion at polling stations among others. It is always alleged by one party or the other that their opponents are training groups of people as commandos to create confusion at polling stations and at political rallies.
Looking at the issues discussed above, one question that comes to mind is, who are those using the youth to create all these violence? What motivates the youth to engage in violence in politics? The bible clearly makes us understand in Luke 17: 1 that “it is impossible but that offences will come: but woe onto him through whom they come”. Most often than not, politicians who accuse the youth of violence claim that the leaders in the other camp are behind the violent activities.
Disgruntled youth whose wishes were not fulfilled by their bosses (politicians) also come out to accuse their bosses of being behind their violent conduct. Apart from politicians being alleged to clandestinely supporting violent acts by the youth in their parties, politicians are sometimes seen or heard making statements that can incite the youth to perpetrate violence against their opponents.
In recent times, one can recount a number of statements made by politicians across the political divide carrying explicit or implicit violence or insults. The Youth in Action for Christ Ministries (YAC) sees this happening as unfortunate and contribute in one way or the other to inciting the youth to engage in violent acts.
YAC by Luke 17:1 is cautioning all politicians to desist from supporting the youth through whatever means to engage in violence because God is utterly against it. It is believed that the youth who engaged in violence acquire their impunity to do so because of the backing of their leaders. The Bible continues to prescribe the consequences of being behind offences that affect humanity such as inciting the youth to engage in violence in politics. Luke 17: 2 emphasis that “it was better for him that a milestone was hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
The Bible also cautions in Ephesians 6: 4 that “fathers should not provoke the children to wrath but rather bring them up in the nature and admonition of the lord”. Political leaders are virtually fathers of the youth under them so should rather engage in actions that will imbibe in the youth peace, a sense of responsibility and patriotism.
The Bible in the same vein entreat the youth to watch their ways and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to use them for violence for God did not say that he will punish the brains behind the violence alone but the doers as well. Psalms 119: 9 says that “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed therefore according to thy word.” YAC want to encourage the youth to ponder critically over this scripture and desist from acts that will lead them into destruction.
YAC therefore wants to sound a note of warning to all politicians; woe onto any politician who will incite the youth to engage in violent acts to destroy the peace of this nation. That politician according to scripture will not be spared by God. YAC will like to conclude by entreating all Ghanaians to love and work for peace for that is what God requires of us.
God bless us all even as we approach the upcoming elections in peace.
Evangelist Odehunofuor Jackson Adu
President Youth In Action For Christ(YAC)
Contact: 0201990790/0546852592
Source: YOUTH IN ACTION FOR CHRIST MINISTRIES (YAC)- GHANA
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