Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa-designate, Benjamin Quashie, has expressed deep concern about the country’s increasing political polarisation, warning that if unchecked, it could erode the very foundation of national unity.
Speaking during a panel discussion on GHOne TV on Thursday, Mr. Quashie made a heartfelt appeal for Ghanaians to rise above partisan politics, especially in times of national mourning.
His comments come in the wake of the tragic helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region that claimed the lives of key government officials, including the Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and the Environment Minister, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.
“If we continue on this tangent, we will not have a country,” he cautioned. “We would have political parties and not any country to stand with – islands within ourselves.”
Mr. Quashie lamented how deeply entrenched partisanship has become in Ghana’s public discourse, to the extent that any objective commentary is quickly labelled along party lines.
“I can sit here and talk about something the government is doing, and people immediately tag you as NDC or NPP,” he said. “Where does that come from? We are politicising everything.”
He cited a personal example during the panel discussion, noting how even constructive criticism or praise is often viewed through a partisan lens, which undermines genuine national dialogue.
“I believe that this should rally us together. We’ve been too politicised as a nation. It’s enough,” he pointed out.
On the tragic helicopter crash, Mr. Quashie also shared insights into ongoing public discussions regarding the absence of a black box or flight data recorder (FDR) in commercial helicopters. He confirmed that many such aircraft do not come equipped with FDRs, making accident investigations more complex.
“There’s no black box in helicopters. So unfortunately, if we expect one, there’s nothing,” he explained. “But as [fellow panelist] Lawyer Jantuah indicated, investigators should look at the communication between the pilots and the base, the weather conditions, and the flight pattern to determine what went wrong.”
Mr. Quashie however commended the outpouring of unity and support from across the political divide, highlighting calls and messages from former presidents and political leaders.
“I’m happy waking up to messages from ex-President Kufuor, ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo. Everybody’s calling to say, ‘this is something that is national.’ We are not looking at the politics as usual.”
He urged the nation to see this tragedy as a rallying point, an opportunity to institute safety reforms and rebuild a more cohesive national spirit.
“Inasmuch as we mourn, we should also put in place measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he stated. “This too, we shall rise above.”
Mr. Quashie’s passionate remarks serve as a sobering reminder that while politics remains vital to Ghana’s democracy, it should never override the collective interest of the nation.
Others who lost their lives in are NDC Vice-Chairman Samuel Sarpong, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, and former parliamentary candidate Mr. Samuel Aboagye.
The Ghana Air Force personnel crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Source: Newstitbits.com
