In June 2020, Ghana was ranked the most peaceful country in West Africa and third on the Continent in the 2020 Global Peace Index report. The index, being run by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), also ranked Ghana 43rd among 163 independent states and territories worldwide.
According to the IEP, the three most dominant factors for grading these countries are the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of militarisation.
One can agree with the IEP that Ghana’s position is well deserved, because the country has generally maintained a peaceful political environment since it became a multi-party democracy since 1992.
The country has held seven elections since it went back to constitutional rule, and one can attest to the fact that they have all been peaceful, except for the activities of one or two miscreants who try to foment trouble.
There was the 2012 elections, which ended in the law court and brought the attention of the world on the country. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), which was the opposition party then, had alleged that the National Democratic Congress’ candidate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, had won the election fraudulently, a charge the NDC denied.
However, the court, presided over by nine judges, ruled that President Mahama had been “validly elected” after beating the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo by 50.7% to 47.7% in the December 2012 election.
Before the judgement, some 32,000 security officers were deployed across the country to prevent any violence, but they ended up not having any work to do, because then candidate Akufo-Addo respected the decision of the Supreme Court and urged all his supporters to accept the verdict in peace. This was, indeed, one big positive outcome for Ghana’s high-flying democratic credentials.
Recently, Ghana’s position as the most peaceful in West Africa was again attested to by His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger, in his capacity as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Chairman, when he invited Ghana’s President and four others to mediate in a political conflict in Mali,.
Ghana’s foreign investment has increased as a result of the peaceful and stable political environment its offers its investors.
All these show that Ghana is a peaceful country, and The Chronicle would beckon all voters who turn out in their numbers to vote on Monday, 7th December, 2020, to strive to maintain this enviable record in the West Africa sub-region, and Africa as a whole.
The Chronicle would want to remind the country that the consequences of political instability are so dire that we must not entertain any acts that would take the country back to junta rule.
We are, therefore, appealing to all stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission (EC), the security agencies, political parties, and the voters to play their role as expected, as we go to the polls on Monday.
We expect the Electoral Commission officials at the polling centres to give voters the opportunity to cast their ballots without intimidation from anyone. They should guarantee unimpeded access by independent observers and monitors from all the parties at every polling station, and ensure that there is transparency in the declaration of the results.
We also expect the security personnel to work professionally and independently to protect lives and election materials, and deal ruthlessly with anyone who would try to obstruct the process.
The political parties should also ensure that they advise their party agents at the various polling stations to follow due process, and respect the rules and regulations spelt out by the EC officials.
The Chronicle is also counting on the media, of which we are part, to provide Ghanaians with factual, truthful, objective and unbiased reportage, while we advise the voters to respect all guidelines at their various polling stations for peace to reign.
Finally, we will encourage every Ghanaian to go out on Monday to vote as a civic responsibility, and also as the day has been declared a holiday.
The post Let’s have peaceful elections once again appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS