Myjoyonline.com republishes an article written during the controversial election petition. It highlights the importance of political tolerance and peace among partisan Ghanaians who followed the 8-month political intrigue.

The article was authored by Edwin Appiah.

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There is something about the hearing of the election petition that the live telecast is not showing us. Whiles the cameras tag behind Comrade, the anchorman, looking for Gloria Akuffo or Nana Ato Dadzie for a soundbite, Philip Addision is looking for his learned colleague – not on the side of petitioners - No. On the “hostile side”- Tony Lithur’s side.

You should have seen them the last time after court. The cameras showed it too briefly. 

Lithur and Addison were actually laughing behind the scenes. Punching one another like a midnight honeymoon fight ( No gay intended).

They will trade jokes off air, and on air NDC and NPP fans will trade jabs.
Extra-passionate Ghanaians who like to watch movies feel war is around the corner.

Ghana? Say the word slowly. G-h-a-n-a? What is that? Who is that? I have never seen Ghana on my street. Never knocked on my door or me on his – not even once. 

If you think about it, the sky doesn’t even know its Ghanaian, and the sea is hardly aware of claims by some people that it's our nautical property. 

There is nothing Ghanaian about our natural environment. Absolutely nothing. But there is something Ghanaian about Ghana. It’s a confused way of saying we have become what we believe we are. Ghana is an idea we have believed so much its become real. 

In an unfortunate eventuality, what we destroy is what we have become, what we believe. We would destroy a real idea.

Elephants are reputed to have a fantastic memory. (By the way if you watch the discovery channel you would know that elephants existed before the formation of the New Patriotic Party).

The beast never forgets. Tie around its feet, a rope to a pole. Leave it. Remove it after 10 years. And guess what? It will not even know it’s free.

This is who we are. The idea has become so real. The illusion is to rather say this country is not Ghana.

Partisanship? That is fine. Heated debates? Why not? Insulting language? Well, I don’t expect democracy to inject civility into anyone, where parental guidance has failed. It’s just too much to ask poor old democracy to do, isn’t it?

Expressing hatred towards a party because of this court case is like getting angry everyday after watching Romeo and Juliet.

The heated the exchange in court, the deeper their friendship develop. Ato Dadzie dropped a hint of this Thursday when he said, they would laugh with counsel for petitioners over bottles of beer. 

After this court case, Tsatsu could be keeping a picture of Addison, you know?

He would recall his “would you shut up” comment – and laugh.

After this court case, Lithur could call Addison and tell him how he recommended him to a client. Addison could actually working together with Quarshie Idun on a case. And Gloria Akuffo could call Lithur and tell him to fix a young bright lawyer in his chambers.

And who would you be calling (if MTN,Airtel and co are still here)? – maybe the UN – screaming for relief items and bastardising world leaders for turning a blind eye on the Ghana humanitarian crisis.