Stop prophesying outcome of Election 2016 — Bani
The Minister of the Interior, Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, has called on pastors to stop predicting the results of the December 7 polls, since that action can pose security threats.
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He explained that such public declarations of election results could stir controversy and violence among supporters of the political parties.
Taking his turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra yesterday, Mr Bani said security was a very sensitive issue and appealed to all to desist from any action that could spark violence, particularly with the approach of the December 7 elections.
The event was attended by a high-powered delegation of service commanders under the Interior Ministry, including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The minister addressed issues concerning the security of the country, plans to deal with illegal formations such as vigilante groups, social media as a tool for electoral violence and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to enhance peace before, during and after the December polls.
Prophecies
As early as January this year, some men of God began giving prophecies about who would eventually win Election 2016.
They include prophets Agyemang Prempeh, Emmanuel Kofi Enim and Owusu Bempah.
In some media reports, the Founder and General Overseer of the Word Victory Chapel International, Prophet Emmanuel Kofi Enim, also prophesied victory for President John Dramani Mahama in the 2016 general election.
Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi, the Leader and Founder of the Glorious Waves Church International, also prophesied that President Mahama would win in just one round.
The Leader of the Glorious Word Power International Ministry, Prophet Owusu Bempah, is reported to have prophesied on several occasions that the flag bearer of the opposition NPP has been ordained by God as President of Ghana after the 2016 elections.
Prophet Ebenezer Dabedwa Bossman of the Ebenezer Trumpet Ministry at Esaase, near Ashanti Akropong, also prophesied that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would emerge the winner in the December polls.
Ghana is safe and will remain safe
Addressing the issue of security barely 42 days to the December polls, Mr Bani assured the public that the security of the country was firm and stable due to the collaborative efforts of the security agencies and all stakeholders.
He was quick to add that the security status quo now and the fact that no armed violent conflicts were currently ongoing in the country did not mean that there were no skirmishes of violence at all.
“Again, globally, every competition for power has been characterised by actions and statements made by political leaders that raise minor tension, but most of the time these are done within the confines of the law and, therefore, raise no cause for alarm,” he said.
He said that notwithstanding, the security agencies were on high alert to protect the current tranquillity the country was enjoying and continue to secure the country before, during and after the December polls.
Mr Bani said his ministry was ready to work with religious bodies and other stakeholders, such as the political parties, the media, the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the National Peace Council, as partners for peaceful elections.
He said the public could collaborate by becoming vigilant and conscious of their environment to pick and report suspicious and unusual persons and activities in their families and communities to help national security interventions.
He appealed to the public to avoid being used by any individual or institution as instruments to incite violence, as the security agencies had put in place measures to deal intensively with such people.
“Anybody caught inciting violence in this electoral period and even beyond, whether in a group or as individuals, will be made to take responsibility for their actions as a person and prosecuted swiftly to deter such actions,” he said.
He said the 2016 elections would not be different from previous ones in terms of the security outcomes, adding: “They will even be better because security arrangements have got better over the years.”
He said the security agencies had declared a zero tolerance for any potential actions of violence and would implement that measure without fear or favour and without compromise.
Social media
Mr Bani reiterated that social media would not be banned at any time during the electoral process.
However, he appealed to the public to desist from using the platform to call election results ahead of the EC, as had happened in the past, adding: “Wrong results which will differ from those of the EC can incite violence and throw the country into tantrums.”
“Journalists have a role to play on the day of election by debunking results going viral on social media,” he said.
He advised the media to work with facts, especially when the declaration of results had not been done by the EC.
Mr Bani assured Ghanaians that the preparedness of the security agencies would ensure incident-free elections in December.