The presidential candidates of the two leading political parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday in Accra, Ghana signed the Peace Pact.
They were joined by the candidates of other political parties and independent candidates in signing the peace pact, committing them to maintain peace before, during, and after the polls on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
Addressing the candidates and the political party leaders during the signing of the Peace Pact, the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensa, urged all the political parties to accept the results of the upcoming elections and reassured the public that “robust measures are in place to ensure the elections are peaceful, free, fair, and transparent”.
She reaffirmed the Commission commitment to promoting peace throughout the electoral process leading up to the 2024 general election.
In his speech at the event, the African Union (AU) High Representative for silencing the guns in Africa, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, called for violence free general elections.
“Once again, the opportunity is presented to prove that Ghana’s leadership role on the continent is deserved. That Ghana can deliver violence free elections.
He noted that the signing of the Peace Pact has become one of the good practices of Ghana’s enviable electoral process. It is a symbolic gesture by the presidential candidates with profound impact across the length and breadth of the country.
According to him, the signing of the document is at the same time an undertaking, a commitment by the leaders of the political parties and Independent Candidates to uphold the lofty principles of fair play, eschewing violence, allowing the electoral process to proceed uninterrupted and adhering to the rule of law in resolving any disputes that may arise from the elections.
“It is also a platform for delivering a strong, clear, unambiguous and powerful message to party faithful, followers of candidates and the population at large that there is no place for violence in democratic elections. No place for guns, cutlasses, knifes, stone throwing or beatings in elections,” he said.
Chambas recalled that when the Heads of State of Africa adopted the Silencing the Guns Initiative, they sought through it to build an Africa at peace with itself and with the rest of the world.
“They were also desirous of bequeathing to present and future generations a peaceful continent which would put conflicts behind it to focus on urgent issues of underdevelopment, poverty, inequalities and the pressing and existential challenges of our time.
“Across the continent one of the triggers of conflict has been poorly conducted elections. In this regard, Ghana has stood out as a shining example, and several sister countries have, over the years, picked up many best practices of election management systems, technology, innovation, processes and procedures from here.
He, however, warned that Ghana’s past successes are no guarantee or assurance of current or future performance. Nothing should be taken for granted.
“There should be no room for complacency,” he said.
According to him, the EC must operate transparently to allay the concerns of its critics or skeptics and the security agencies must rise up to high professional standards, be neutral in their operations and act decisively, while the media, especially social media must avoid misinformation, disinformation, character assassination, fake news, rumours, etc.
“The Judiciary is expected to ensure accountability and to deliver justice impartially and timeously. Two maxims come to play here: justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done; and justice delayed is justice denied. And party leaders and other political operatives or activists must avoid hate speech and actions likely to incite their followers to violence,” he added.
GIK/APA