The Supreme Court has spoken. And when the Supreme Court speaks, appeal matter no dey inside. It's that!!
These days it has become increasingly unfashionable and
politically incorrect to assume a certain position when it comes to the issue
of the rights of miscreants in society. But we, like the miscreants and their
proponents, have rights and we will exercise the right of free speech and the
right to express our opinions to make our opinions known.
I, Kobina Ebo, do not have a problem with prisoners voting
per se. What I have a problem with, is the phenomenon creeping into our society
from outside, where under the guise of protecting the rights of miscreants or
suspected miscreants, the concept and severity of punishment for crimes
committed is slowly being diluted. Note the emphasis please. That is the
central theme of this note.
I am not privy to the reasons adduced by the Supreme Court
in arriving at this landmark decision. But I am worried that this could serve
as a catalyst for future court actions which might seek to add more
"rights" to the existing rights of prisoners.
For example on the basis of this judgement, what prevents
future court actions which would challenge why, irrespective of crime:
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy conjugal rights. If I
can vote like the ordinary man on the street, why can't I shag my wife or
girlfriend like the man on the street?
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy the right to form
prison chapters of political parties and canvass/fight for votes
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy the right to
unfettered Internet Access.
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy the right to possess
mobile phones with which they can use to threaten their victims. After all they
should have a right to communicate
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy the right to call
Radio Stations to express their views. Cos after all, like serial callers, they
have a lot of time on their hands
·
Prisoners shouldn't enjoy the right to run their
businesses, legitimate and not so legit, from prison. After all they will be
contributing to GDP and providing employment. And besides they would need a
means of income for their families and for after their release from prison
·
Prisoners shouldn't be allowed to attend the
funerals of loved ones or friends
·
Prisoners shouldn't be allowed to attend the
speech and prize giving days of their offspring
On the surface, these seem ludicrous. But that is exactly
how ludicrous the right of a prisoner to vote, seems to some dummkopfs like us.
Concept of
punishment
To me, being sent to prison is meant to:
·
Punish the offender
·
Serve as a deterrent to other potential
offenders
·
Maybe, if possible and if the prisoner is
willing . . to reform him or her somewhat
Punishment
The Bible says spare the rod and spoil the child. Punishment
is difficult and painful for both the administerer and recipient/beneficiary.
But punishment is necessary to drive home the point that the offender,
offended. Amongst other rights withdrawn, the withdrawal of the right to free
movement is one of the forms of punishments. That's why prisoners are in
prisons.
Deterrent
The concept of Prison is meant to deter other potential
offenders from offending. I, the OldManChild will do anything to avoid prison
because I don't want to lose my posterior virginity. Likewise other offenders
for other reasons, might be dissuaded from offending. As soon as prison becomes
less of a deterrent, we begin to lose the deterrent effect of imprisonment. If
a potential offender knows that after all he can vote in prison, then prison
won't be much different from the regular hustle of life.
Prisoners as an
influential minority
It might be far fetched but in the future I see a situation
where prisoners become a vocal minority and politicians will have no
alternative but to skew policy to cater for the whims and desires of prisoners.
Politicians will take their campaigning into prison yards. And just like we
have violence between supporters of the major parties outside prisons, violence
can erupt between prisoners who belong to opposing political parties.
Hanging and
lashing in Singapore
It is not by being sissies, squeamish and weak tummied that
Singapore has the enviable reputation as one of the safest places on earth. For
some weird reason, we in Ghana have chosen Singapore as our inspiration in
achieving progress and a harmonious society. But developmentally, Singapore got
to where it currently is, by making it's citizens aware that once you were a
law abiding citizen, life would be heaven for you. But if you chose to break
the law, the law would make life hell or non existent for you the offender.
In Singapore, if you like, chew gum and spit it out or
litter the sidewalk with your sachet water pack. Irrespective of age or
societal status, you will be lashed like how people were traumatically lashed
during the tumultuous events of June 4th 1979.
Do the following in Singapore and you will hang by the neck
until you soil yourself and are stone dead:
·
Unlawfully discharge firearms
·
Kidnapping
·
Drug trafficking
·
Robbery committed by five or more people that
results in the death of a person
amongst others.
Conclusion
Prison is meant to reform the offender at best and at worst
keep the offender away from society until such a time that he or she, on his
return to society would have learnt a hard lesson that offending is not worth
the hassle of prison.To me anything which might trigger or serve as a catalyst
for the eventual reduction of the deterrent aspect of Prison is a source of
worry.
A safe, ordered and progressive society is one in which
every citizen is aware that along with his freedoms and rights, come
responsibilities. When one shirks his responsibilities or trespasses on the
rights of others, he must be punished severely. And the severity of punishment
must be maintained for it to serve it's purpose as a deterrent. At the current
rate of "liberalization” of Ghanaian society, our children will not have
the luxury or right to smack their children. They will then become as unruly,
disrespectful and sometimes as murderous as British teenagers. God help us
then.
God Bless Our Homeland Ghana!!
