A security analyst, Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Aning says the weekend violence at Akwatia over impending polls should awaken Ghanaians to the fact the country is not immune to the use of political violence in pursuit of political power. He said the violence was a sad regression from the joy the country experienced when it pulled back from the brink of explosion following close election results last December. Dr Aning told Joy News Editor Matilda Asante Asiedu many would have thought Ghana had moved beyond the use of political violence to achieve political ends, but “I think what we have witnessed on television, listened to on radio and read in the newspapers demonstrates that violence as a tool for attaining political ends is still alive and well.” He said the security agencies had to do more to dicourage violence by arresting and prosecuting perpetrators. “Until and unless they arrest and prosecute those who organize these boys and arm them, I am afraid the preparations towards the Chireponi by-election – and if the Bawku Central seat is also declared null and void – would be considerably worse than we are experiencing at Akwatia right now,” he warned. The security expert said the closeness of last year’s elections accounts partly for the violence at Akwatia as the two main parties, NPP and NDC, seek to demonstrate their popularity. “Because of the 40,000 difference, every single by-election now has much more serious importance to the survival and credibility of both parties and unfortunately both parties are sending signals that they will do what it takes to win irrespective of whether it threatens the lives and the societal security of the people there,” Dr Aning stated. “Precisely because both parties are running neck-and-neck, it is crucial to send signals to their supporters that they are strong and that they can win in 2012,” he added. Dr Aning charged political leaders to show responsibility to Ghanaians by avoiding reckless pursuit of power. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline/Ghana