The National Peace Council has officially condemned the brutalities recorded during the December 2020 elections which led to the loss of lives of some eight persons.
According to the Peace Council, the tragedy that befell the families of the eight persons is nothing to write home about, therefore, calls on all political parties and stakeholders to make sure that none of the unpalatable incidents occur in the upcoming December 2024 elections.
The National Peace Council posits that these tragedies tarnished Ghana’s reputation as far as peaceful electoral process is concerned, as against the general perception that the elections was peaceful.
During a Public Forum on Media, Peace, and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana, a stakeholder engagement held in Accra, a member of the Peace Council, Madam Joana Opare emphasised that the Peace Council is currently engaging with stakeholders to prevent such tragedies in the future, stressing that no election should ever result in the loss of precious lives and livelihoods.
She stated, “One of them came especially from the stakeholder meeting by CODEO that especially highlighted, and I quote, the deaths that were recorded in the 2020 general elections had dented Ghana’s image. Excellences, under no circumstances should elections lead to the death of any lives.
“To move beyond this collective pain, we have had a lot of consultations with all stakeholders, the political parties, their leadership, the media and so on to ensure that we are all moving in the right direction to keep Ghana as a peaceful country,” she stated.
Opposition’s Skepticism
The reaction from the National Peace Council comes in the wake of a recent outburst by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah for which the latter had opposed any attempt to get the NDC to sign any Peace document.
Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.
NDC’s Conditions
During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.
The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.
The opposition party further urges the President, Nana Akufo Addo to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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