EDITORIAL REMARKS ON "Police swoop on illegal miners, destroy $390,000 excavators"

Ghana has long outgrown leadership foolishness and self-centeredness, two cancerous elements in the African political theater. This Ghanaian experiment has been enviously tapped as a model of democratic success which we all guard with pride and vigilance even amidst successive attempts to wrestle it away through usage of force and intimidation. In the past this nonsense would be laughed off or buried under acquiesence. Not anymore. . Times have changed, giving rise to serious perceptions of how our leaders behave towards positions they are entrusted to administer on behalf of the people .It is different also because each generation espouses challenges mired by its progress and advancements. None accepts the daunting events of its past nor repetition of gloom and doom treated as alternate to spirited participation in governance whose guidance is the rule of law.To our generation incidents like these types are rightly deemed as assaults on our intelligence. "The unfortunate incident may have emanated out of ignorant power-drunkeness", we would rightly suggest. The presage of Cicero's famous "salus reipublicae suprema lex" is a perfect reflection of the present-day-Ghana. The safety of any state depends upon independence of its judiciary and respect for individual rights as prescribed by the constitution - an instrument we endear with pride and glory. It is rather disturbing and hard to imagine that a nation which has given birth to a one time leader of a world body would subscribe to principles or behaviours, far contrary to ideals he championed and led to protect. We as a nation from all spectra of political beliefs shall not, in any way, tolerate or condone any assault on the judiciary either with intent to silence or intimidate judges over dispensation of justice nor accede to abuse of power by any law enforcement agents. Illegal zeizure of properties, unlawful arrests and application of intimidation to achieve selfish ends are deemed criminal and unconstitutional. Governance is at its best when the exercise of power is guarded by the rule of law dispensed by untainted judiciary - a lesson yet to be taught.... Dr Tommy de Laurence - New York