The National Peace Council has observed that the 2020 general election is witnessing more campaign for peace than all past elections that have been conducted so far in Ghana’s 4th republic.
Since 1992Ghana has had three peaceful turnovers of power and no experience of widespread electoral violence. But ahead of the 2020 polls, there are some areas of concern.
According to a representative of the National Peace Council, Florence Lardi Mananizor, the reason for an increase in the campaign for peace ahead of this year’s election is that despite Ghana’s enviable record as a beacon of democracy in Africa, there is a mixed feeling of whether the outcome of the election will be accepted by all; particularly the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).
She made this known on Thursday, in Bolgatanga, at a youth forum organized by Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana; in partnership with Civil Society Organizations in the Upper East Region.
“None of the elections during Ghana’s 4th Republic has witnessed more campaign for peace than the 2020 election. The reason for this is that although Ghana has an enviable record of conducting creditable and peaceful elections, the coming 7th December election is a major challenge in respect of whether the country will be able to maintain this record of credible election which outcome will be acceptable by all particularly the two main political parties NDC and NPP.” She said.
Touching on the need for peace and a credible electoral process, Madam Lardi said if elections are peaceful, free and fair, it facilitates smooth transfer of power from one administration to another and further confer legitimacy on elected officials.
She therefore called on the general public; especially the youth to work towards ensuring a peaceful election come December 7.
“My dear youth, peace is not given, it is worked for, peace is a gift of mankind to another. It is those who give peace that have peace. Peace is a two way truth, to have peace you have to be peaceful and tolerant.” She advised.
Meanwhile, the opposition NDC has expressed concerns over their lack of confidence in what they said is a new and untested leadership at the electoral commission; being the chairperson, Jean Mensah and her two deputies; Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey.
To this end, Flag bearer of the party, Former President John Dramani Mahama, has reportedly indicated that his party will not accept the results of a flawed electoral process.
But the NPP on the other hand has expressed absolute confidence in the ability of the new set of leadership at the electoral commission to deliver on their made of conducting a credible election; a stand conspicuously held by parties in power.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
