Managing Election- Relation Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana As it stands, both main parties believe they are assured of electoral victory in Election 2012: the NDC is confident of a second term in office, while its main opposition, the NPP, is also certain the incumbent will be voted out of power and he voted in. Thus in a'game' in which there can be but only one victor, one wonders what the strong convictions of both parties, coupled with the sharp rise in intemperate language within the political discourse, mean for the security of the country come the elections. Furthermore, with oil exploration and commercialization having begun in the country, the stakes seem to have been raised. In interviews with sections of the public, many believed Ghana's democratic process and stability were threatened, particularly because of the'politics of insult' culture together with the polarizing factors and tensions evident in almost every facet of society. On the basis of the opinions, arguments and the samples of intemperate statements that have been presented and discussed above, one can understand why such public pessimism might be warranted. The country, in their opinion, is gradually moving towards an unavoidable collision: We are sitting on a time bomb, if these statements come and are glorified by people who are supposed to condemn it. … I think this is something that the moment it is said, no matter which[side of the] political divide it is coming from, 46 it should be condemned outright. It should be noted that the full repercussions of some of these vitriolic statements might not be apparent now, but the statements might spark off vile(re)actions later, for example on the day of voting or in the period right after. 46 Interview with Journalist/ News Editor at Kapital Radio, Kumasi, 28 June 2011 126