Editorial : We cannot afford to lose the peace, let us protect it

Last Monday, July 20, 2020 The Chronicle commented on the electoral violence at Banda Ahenkro in the Banda District of the Bono Region that led to the death of a 28 year-old teacher, who had just graduated from the Oda College of Education.

Sadly, just a week after the publication, a similar incident has been repeated at Kasoa, in the Central region, with gunshots marring the registration process.

As a country, if we do not take care and things continue this way, we are sure to be treading on dangerous grounds, as well as jeopardising the stability, peace and tranquility that we are enjoying.

Electoral violence has been one of Africa’s greatest distractions in recent times. Countries that have suffered electoral violence in the past include; Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Other countries on the continent that had exhibited electoral violence are Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Uganda.

According to the Nordiska Africa Institute, electoral violence is regarded as a sub-category of political violence that is primarily distinguished by its timing and motive.

It is a coercive and deliberate strategy used by political actors – incumbents as well as opposition parties – to advance their interests or achieve specific political goals in relation to an electoral contest.

The Institute added that electoral violence may take place in all parts of the electoral cycle, such as in the run-up to elections, on the day of elections and in the immediate post-election period.

Election-related violence is not limited to physical violence but includes other coercive means, such as the threat of violence, intimidation and harassment.

The Institute continued by categorising causes of electoral violence- structural factors related to the underlying power structures prevalent in new democracies and factors related to the electoral process and the electoral contest itself.

Although there have been reported few issues of minor electoral violence at the initial stages of the registration, The Chronicle can state on authority that the process has seemingly been peaceful until the recent violent happenings between the two dominant political parties -New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).

As a people, we must be mindful of how the electoral process is churning out violence, where citizens are being stabbed and fired at.

As citizens, we must rise up and speak against such situations, since the costs associated with electoral violence are high.

Election violence may have a critical impact on the electoral process, the outcome of the elections and their perceived legitimacy, as a result, going forward, The Chronicle would want the registration exercise to be violent free.

Electoral violence has been identified to create humanitarian crisis and halt or reverse socio-economic development programmes. In extreme situations, it may increase the risk of armed conflict or civil war.

Election violence can also go beyond the societies where it occurs and affect neighbouring states by displacing large border populations, introducing a humanitarian crisis and increasing the circulation of arms, as well as armed violence, which may contribute to instability in already volatile regions.

The Chronicle would want to suggest the need to intensify our small arms control and also plead with the security agencies to be neutral in the discharge of their duties to instil confidence in the citizenry.

 

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