_In Europe and elsewhere, unless one is suspected of terrorism, the mild “Rambo-style” arrest is designed for everyone. Let’s get this straight… Mansa Musa writes ✍️_
As they say, you can never be sad in Ghana. My Ghanaian countrymen and women are sometimes, indeed, most times very funny. Some people, mostly politicians and their affiliates, are still living in their own ivory towers, blowing their bubbles of joy and thinking everyone everywhere should abide by their self-deceiving notion that they are special and must be treated as such.
The latest story is that a Ghanaian parliamentarian has been arrested on an airport tarmac, and all hell has broken loose within the political sphere. Some are saying the American authorities, together with their Dutch counterparts, should have informed the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament about the investigations and the subsequent arrest of the MP.
Today, many politicians, together with several commentators, are said to be outraged over the so-called “Rambo-style” arrest of the MP on the plane immediately after touchdown. And many have joined the crescendo, demanding “respect” from foreign jurisdictions.
What a load of misplaced arrogance, displayed through ignorance of how accountability procedures and processes are conducted in progressive systems and societies.
The truth, which we in Ghana refuse to acknowledge, is that these more advanced nations, whether authoritarian or liberal democratic, trust neither our institutions nor, in many cases, us as a people. And for that, we have only ourselves to blame.
We have made accountability optional in Ghana, and outsiders know this. They see what goes on in our country. We demand respect as a sovereign nation, yet we do not command respect even among some of our peers because we do not allow our state institutions to operate naturally, independently, and professionally.
Until we begin to improve the quality and integrity of our institutions, others will not accord us the respect we believe we deserve.
What many of my people either do not know or refuse to accept is that policing and security agencies in Europe and other progressive countries do not usually discriminate in the manner or style of arrest based on social status. There is no “Rambo-style” treatment for ordinary people and polite invitations for the rich and powerful, as many would prefer to see practiced here in Ghana.
In Europe and the Americas, suspects are generally subjected to the same arrest procedures irrespective of status. And this is something we must bring ourselves to appreciate and accept.
Our compatriot has been arrested. Investigations will continue, and if he is found innocent of the suspected criminal offences, he will be set free.
And depending on the circumstances, an apology may even be offered to him. But his statutory rights will not end there. He can sue for wrongful arrest, unlawful detention, and other related violations if applicable.
So for now, let us allow lawful processes to proceed. That is that.
_In Europe and elsewhere, unless one is suspected of terrorism, the mild “Rambo-style” arrest is designed for everyone. Let’s get this straight… Mansa Musa writes ✍️_
As they say, you can never be sad in Ghana. My Ghanaian countrymen and women are sometimes, indeed, most times very funny. Some people, mostly politicians and their affiliates, are still living in their own ivory towers, blowing their bubbles of joy and thinking everyone everywhere should abide by their self-deceiving notion that they are special and must be treated as such.
The latest story is that a Ghanaian parliamentarian has been arrested on an airport tarmac, and all hell has broken loose within the political sphere. Some are saying the American authorities, together with their Dutch counterparts, should have informed the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament about the investigations and the subsequent arrest of the MP.
Today, many politicians, together with several commentators, are said to be outraged over the so-called “Rambo-style” arrest of the MP on the plane immediately after touchdown. And many have joined the crescendo, demanding “respect” from foreign jurisdictions.
What a load of misplaced arrogance, displayed through ignorance of how accountability procedures and processes are conducted in progressive systems and societies.
The truth, which we in Ghana refuse to acknowledge, is that these more advanced nations, whether authoritarian or liberal democratic, trust neither our institutions nor, in many cases, us as a people. And for that, we have only ourselves to blame.
We have made accountability optional in Ghana, and outsiders know this. They see what goes on in our country. We demand respect as a sovereign nation, yet we do not command respect even among some of our peers because we do not allow our state institutions to operate naturally, independently, and professionally.
Until we begin to improve the quality and integrity of our institutions, others will not accord us the respect we believe we deserve.
What many of my people either do not know or refuse to accept is that policing and security agencies in Europe and other progressive countries do not usually discriminate in the manner or style of arrest based on social status. There is no “Rambo-style” treatment for ordinary people and polite invitations for the rich and powerful, as many would prefer to see practiced here in Ghana.
In Europe and the Americas, suspects are generally subjected to the same arrest procedures irrespective of status. And this is something we must bring ourselves to appreciate and accept.
Our compatriot has been arrested. Investigations will continue, and if he is found innocent of the suspected criminal offences, he will be set free.
And depending on the circumstances, an apology may even be offered to him. But his statutory rights will not end there. He can sue for wrongful arrest, unlawful detention, and other related violations if applicable.
So for now, let us allow lawful processes to proceed. That is that.
