Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Reverend Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, has called on political parties to prioritize peace and avoid violence at all costs.
Speaking at the peace pact signing ceremony, Rev. Adu-Gyamfi stressed that election grievances should be resolved through lawful channels rather than inciting unrest.
He emphasized the importance of the peace pact as a step toward ensuring harmony during and after the elections.
According to him, the ceremony is a testament to the commitment of the presidential candidates to peaceful elections and our country.
“It is a commitment to the fact that when we are not satisfied with the outcome of any election result, we will not motivate our supporters to resort to violence but will use the appropriate means to resolve our concerns. Resorting to violence is inimical and must be avoided at all costs,” he stated.
He expressed hope that the pact would translate into actionable efforts, adding that the presence of all presidential candidates signalled their dedication to Ghana’s stability.
Rev. Adu-Gyamfi urged all candidates to avoid hate speech and divisive remarks that could incite their followers.
He warned that such behaviour undermines peace and should be avoided at all costs
He also advised the eventual election winner to celebrate modestly, acknowledging the temporary nature of political power.
“The mandate lasts only four years. To those who do not win, see this as an opportunity to prepare for the next election cycle,” he added.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama expressed scepticism about the impact of the peace pact, stressing that it must be followed by concrete actions.
“There is reason to be concerned that the signing of this pact, though well-intentioned, could amount to nothing if not followed by concrete actions to guarantee peace by the stakeholders and government,” Mahama said.
He pointed to past instances of election-related violence and mistrust, noting a disconnect between words and actions.
He said, “It is all well and good for us to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes. However, all efforts to build peace before, during, and after the 2024 elections would be futile if mistrust and insincerity persist,” he added.
Mahama pointed to the 2020 elections and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election as examples of failures to uphold peace.
“We all recall the appalling spectacle of masked men acting on the orders of operatives of the government, shooting indiscriminately at innocent Ghanaians going about their legitimate electoral activity during that by-election. Some of the victims of that shooting incident remain incapacitated till now,” he said.
He also criticized the government’s inaction on the Emile Short Commission’s recommendations and its silence on the murder of eight citizens during the 2020 elections.
“How are we to believe that such killings would not reoccur? The inaction of the government casts doubt on its commitment to maintaining peace,” Mahama questioned.
The event underscored the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure peaceful elections.
Both the NPC and political candidates urged Ghanaians to remain united and uphold democratic values, despite lingering concerns about trust and sincerity in the peace-building process.