I see a culture of bizarre intolerance; people believe they can speak, squeal anyhow - Gabby
- Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has said that a true democrat must be able to take criticisms
- He was reacting to claims that Ghana is back to the era of culture of silence
- He said what he sees is a culture of bizarre intolerance
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A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, has urged Ghanaians to “shape and define our own attractiveness and competitiveness.”
Source: Twitter
Reacting to the raging controversy that the country is gradually slipping back to the era where citizens could not speak truth to power, he tweeted: “What I see now in Ghana is a Culture of Bizarre Intolerance but by a Special Class who believe they have the right to speak and squeal anyhow but others must be silent and not challenge the views of that Special Class.”
According to him, a democrat is one who can give and take in equal measure.
Otchere-Darko’s remarks sparked a massive debate on his timeline.
@james12 said: “Yes, the NPP foot soldiers, they attack you the moment you speak up.”
@israel_catalyst countered: “Exactly what he is saying. You feel you have the right to speak but the moment they challenge your views with counter facts, you call it an attack. That’s gross intolerance.”
@frimpong30 observed: “Is sad ppl talk about culture of silence same ppl criticize the gov’t everyday and nothing happens to anyone yet same ppl have a problem when ppl speak for gov’t which one is the “culture of silence” against gov’t or citizens.”
@Aqualif04116185 retorted: “U don't seems to understand the culture of silence as described by Sir Jonah, ur understanding of it is still shallow. Till u understand his perception u will only think of literal Culture of Silence.”
Meanwhile, Professor Ransford Gyampo has described as non-existent claims that the country has returned to the “culture of silence”.
Business tycoon, Sir Sam Jonah, recently expressed grave concerns that the country is slowly returning to an era where citizens could not be critical of the powerful under the Akufo-Addo administration.
“It appears to me that the culture of silence has returned. This time not to be enforced by legal and military power but through convenience, parochialism, hypocrisy, and lack of conviction,” Sir Jonah stated.
Gyampo who is an associate professor at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, however, disagreed.
In a Facebook post sighted by YEN.com.gh, he dismissed the claims by Sir Jonah, saying: “On the issue of culture of silence, we must present a holistic and accurate picture.”
“The few daring Ghanaians who speak their minds haven’t been gagged. They receive threatening texts and insults by some cowards and faceless people. But they are still talking, with some, even insulting freely and irresponsibly,” he added.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
