Ensuring A Peaceful General Elections

Approximately six months from now, Ghanaians would be going to the polls to elect a new president, who would be managing the socio-economic affairs of the Republic, for another four year term.

Not only are they going to elect a new president, but also, they are going to decide on who should represent their respective constituencies in the next law-making chamber, as Members of Parliament. Some of the renowned MPs who have blazed the trail and impacted society heavily with their invaluable contribution to democracy in the country may be giving way to fresh faces.

While three times flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would be struggling to have a third time shot at the presidential title, President John Mahama would be doing everything possible, like a leech, to cling on to power, for another term. The posture and attitude of both the governing and opposition political parties, especially in taking entrenched positions, desperate to win power at all cost, should be a source of worry to all.

The Chronicle, on Friday, published a story headlined -”Police Rap Media over Peaceful Election”, in which the Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces, has vowed to do whatever it takes to tackle any criminal activity that might interrupt the upcoming general elections.

According to the story, “the joint security force would not hesitate to arrest any individual or group of persons that will flout or violate the rules set to ensure a peaceful election, come November 7, 2016.” They also warned that the security forces would not tolerate any political party vigilante or taskforce, which will take the law into their own hands.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. John Kudalor cautioned persons who would hide behind political party colours to misconduct themselves to avoid such practices, since the security would not look at faces or colours before prosecution. “If you are a politician and you descend to that level, we will deal with you unless the law proves otherwise.

“To address some of these electoral disturbances and mayhems, a National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) has been inaugurated ahead of time, with the responsibility of protecting the polls.   He elaborated that: “The purpose of the NESTF was to maintain law and order, before, during and after the election”.

It is gratifying to hear that the joint security task force is determined to go all out to ensure that they protect not only the peace of the country, but most importantly, the polls.  It is the position of  The Chronicle that our security agencies take into consideration, what a country saturated with political instability and the one sidedness of the security agencies to lend their allegiance to one political party or group to win power, could bring to this country.

Albert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist, who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics once said; “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”  The Chronicle, therefore, appeals to our security agencies to, as a matter of importance, stay neutral as Ghanaians go to the polls to elect a new president and Members of Parliament.

If the security agencies decide to use force to bend the will of the people to get one person onto the throne, then there is the likelihood that things could fall apart, judging from the seemingly fragile political environment the country finds itself currently.