No one can dispute the fact that our country, Ghana is one of the most peace- loving countries in Africa and the world at large, hence well noted for its deep practice in democracy. If there is nothing at all to vindicate this, Ghana’s ability to conduct successful and peaceful elections in the last two decades is a clear and concrete example of its commitment to democracy.
Another is the 2012 election petition filed by the New Patriotic Party(NPP) at the Supreme Court against the Electoral Commission, president Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC). This challenge by the NPP at the apex court of the land raised many eyebrows both nationally and internationally and pushed tensions to its peak. For many, it was the first of its kind in our land and could have plunged the country into situations we never hope for. But thanks to Nana AKUFFO Addo(ABUTERE HENE), the presidential candidate of the NPP and his harmonious party faithfuls, the country could have been plunged to violence. They graciously accepted the Supreme Court’s verdict without hesitation.
With barely three months to this year’s elections, it is the dream and hope of all and sundry that peace prevail once again before, during and after the elections. It is quite obvious that for this dream to be achieved, all of us have to get involved in preaching the peace that we are crying. This is especially for the various constitutional bodies such the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) which is mandated by the constitution to educate the people on the laws of the land, the MEDIA which is capable of disseminating information to the people, the police service which is mandated by the constitution to maintain law and order in the country.
All other major stakeholders in the country should be up and doing. Political parties should stop attacking one another either verbally or physically. They must instead communicate to the electorates their policies and why they should be given the mantle of leadership.
It is significant to leave these bodies and other organs of government especially the Electoral Commission and the judiciary to work independently so as to enable them deal with offenders without fear or favour. Religious Bodies and civil society organizations must rise and speak for peace. They must equally call for a clean, fair and transparent elections. Vigilante groups especially those affiliated to political parties who violate the law should be dealt with accordingly. Those so-called security bodies which appear some time ago like the Bolgatanga Bulldogs which are believed to belong to a faction within the NPP and the UNTOUCHABLE FORCES/Azoka Boys of the NDC must not be allowed to operate.
These constitutional bodies must be guided by the constitution in the exercise of their duties. The press has essential role to play in this 2016 elections. Journalists should use decorous language in exercising their duties. Panelists of various media houses should avoid the use of inflammatory language so as to avoid the persistent and needless legal suits in recent times. Politicians in the course of their campaigning should communicate to the electorates what they are capable of doing when given the mantle rather than attacking and accusing one another on various platforms. We the electorates should also be guided by our conscience and should also be mindful of the fact that almost all those top politicians have their children abroad and even those within the country have better security than us, hence we should not be used as tools for violence.
In a nutshell, we all must get involved in order to achieve a free, fair, transparent and violence-free election. We must all bare in mind that this is the only country we have. We can’t destroy it and go anywhere. No country can treat us well and better as we’re well treated in our own home country.
Tonduogu Musah Abass
(0208377521)
Acting Secretary of Young Patriots in the Sissalaland