Time to ensure peaceful elections is now
Peace has played a very significant role in deepening our appreciation of the central place of elections in our democratic process, especially when we look at the election dynamics since the inception of the Fourth Republic.
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Ghana occupies a very pre-eminent position in Africa in many respects, especially with regard to our democratic credentials which were attained on a bedrock of peace, with implications for the stability and development of the country.
Ghana has been having direct encounters with the ballot box since 1992, which is suggestive that by now issues of peaceful elections should be a part of our democracy. But, unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.
Elections are not about only voting and results but involve many elements, such as the participation of the people before, during and after voting, the constitutional and legal arrangements, political party activities (their registration, manifestoes and campaigns), agencies and institutions (the media, security agencies, the Judiciary), local and foreign observers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs)/civil society organisations (CSOs), electoral bodies, financing arrangements, etc.
A weakness or failure on the part of any one of the above directly or indirectly affects the credibility of the electoral process and has the potential to escalate into untoward security situations.
That is why the Daily Graphic is worried about the announcement by the Electoral Commission (EC) that it has identified 81 flashpoints and has asked the police for the provision of adequate security at all polling stations and the EC’s regional offices.
While the EC has been proactive in anticipating the various flashpoints for the security agencies to have ample time to prepare for such areas, it is equally instructive that the leadership of the political parties take the responsibility to educate their followers to refrain from any acts that will undermine the peace.
Our traditional leadership, opinion leaders, the clergy and CSOs must also take up the challenge of impressing on their people to endeavour to remain calm and controlled, even in the face of provocation, while allowing the security agencies to handle any challenges that come up.
We also want to implore the Election Security Task Force to step up its preparatory activities and ensure that the law applies equally to all offenders of electoral rules and perpetrators of violence, irrespective of political party affiliation.
We must not for once underestimate the power of the media to equally do good or cause harm.
The right to free speech must be used constructively, not in a manner that will undermine national security, peace and stability. We have the responsibility to hold the country together as a united entity before, during and after the polls.
The main challenge facing the country as we approach the December polls is whether Ghana can hold another peaceful and transparent elections whose outcome will be credible and acceptable to the main contestants and all Ghanaians.
The success of this year’s polls requires that the EC and all stakeholders involved in the electoral process play their parts diligently to ensure that the process is free from violence.
