National affairs and economic development analyst Shepherd Ali has warned that Ghana’s growing culture of insults in political discourse could undermine the country’s democratic progress.
According to him, political disagreements should be centred on ideas and arguments rather than personal attacks, which he believes are gradually making healthy public debate difficult.
“Ghana is doing well when it comes to our democracy. But what is now eating in our fabric of democracy, which is the culture of insult that we are infusing it, is the danger,” he said on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana on Friday, September 4.
Mr Ali said political debates in Ghana were increasingly becoming hostile, making it difficult for citizens to benefit from discussions on issues affecting the country.
He contrasted this with his experience working in Europe, where he said people were able to disagree strongly without necessarily turning the disagreement into a personal attack.
“In Europe, there is debate, hot debate. But people use that platform to lay down their argument. They educate their audience. They let people who don’t even share the same view as them to gradually sway to their side,” he explained.
“But we are now taking our space, and changing it into a wrestlemania of insult. And when we say democracy, it’s not demo insult. It is not demo insult. It is the ability to lay down your opinion.”
Mr Ali, who works as a financial consultant with a multinational company in the Czech Republic and also lectures at a university, said the problem should not be dismissed as ordinary political banter.
He warned that repeated insults could gradually desensitise citizens and create an environment where stronger forms of aggression become normal.
“And this is what is now going to be a stumbling block for our democracy,” he said.
Using the example of how a child may respond to constant insults, Mr Ali said excessive verbal attacks could eventually produce resistance rather than compliance.
“And that is what is going to happen to our Afghanian citizens. Because once we now develop a thick skin for insult, and you keep insulting me and I’m not responding, and I’m not doing what you want, what is the next form of aggression that you will take?” he asked.
Calls for religious leaders to speak up
Mr Ali believes the response should not be left entirely to law enforcement and called for more public education on the dangers of abusive political discourse.
“The silence is not helping. The silence is not helping. People should come out,” he said.
He specifically appealed to the Christian Council and the Office of the Chief Imam to use their platforms to discourage insults and promote respectful public debate.
“I want to use this platform to appeal to the Christian Council. They should come out on it. Get most of their preachers to go on it on their Sunday services. Talk to the people. Talk to their church members,” he said.
“I want to appeal to the office of the chief imam. He has to come out with his voice. Speak loudly to the community of Muslims,” he said.
He said religious teachings in both Christianity and Islam provide guidance against abusive speech and should be used to reinforce the need for respectful engagement.
Mr Ali also rejected the argument that insults are justified because political opponents have engaged in similar conduct in the past.
“I am not here on this August platform to audit the history of any media outlet. I’m not here to audit any political party, or their commentators. Neither I’m I here to audit what any individual have said over time,” he said.
His concern, he explained, is the effect the trend could have on Ghanaian society regardless of which political side is responsible.
Insults competition
Mr Ali said the growing popularity of personalities known for their abusive commentary was another worrying development.
“It is becoming, it’s becoming so bad that now people are not competing for knowledge. People are competing for those who can insult more,” he said.
He argued that greater attention should instead be given to platforms and individuals providing citizens with useful information and education.
“We need to listen. Those educations from other political parties, we need to listen. But we are now feeding on the insult which is not helping us which over time can create a very chaotic situation.”
Launches ‘Stop the Insults’ campaign
Mr Ali said his concerns have led him to launch a campaign aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reject political insults and promote respectful political engagement.
He travelled from the Czech Republic to Ghana to begin the campaign and initially planned a group walk from Accra to Cape Coast.
After being advised that police approval would be required, he said he instead embarked on a solo walk from Kasoa to Winneba last Saturday.
“I came down all the way from Czech Republic and I’m like, let me do what I can do to let people know that this is really an issue,” he said.
During the walk, he said he spoke with drivers, market women and other residents about the impact of insults on Ghanaian society.
“Most of these people share the same opinion. Most of them are like, no, this is not the way to go. This is not acceptable,” he said.
Mr Ali said his campaign would continue in phases, with plans for further walks around Accra and in Kumasi.
His broader objective, he said, is to convince Ghanaians that political disagreement does not have to become personal abuse.
“I want everybody to come on board to understand that we can politics, we can share opinions, we can argue on points, we can, we can bring out anything that we think we want another person to understand without insulting,” he said.
He urged political actors, media personalities and ordinary citizens to help create a culture where young people learn to value knowledge and constructive disagreement rather than insults.
“Let it be a discussion so that we all get our young ones who are coming up there not to appreciate this insult,” he added.
