2024 polls: ‘Don't look at politicians and fight; they chill behind the screens together’ — Dr Serebour Quaicoe to voters

Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, the Head of Training at Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC) has urged voters not to engage in political violence ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Speaking at a forum in Accra on Friday, August 9, Dr. Quaicoe said leaders of the two dominant parties - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) - portray hostility towards each other in public but are quite friendly behind closed doors.

“One thing I like about the NDC and NPP, in the public view, they will portray that they are enemies but when they are done, they are the best of friends," Dr. Quaicoe said.

He cautioned the electorate against taking sides in politicians' feuds in a way that could threaten public peace.

“I always tell the electorates that don’t look at them and fight because when they finish [arguing publicly], they go somewhere and have lunch over some bottles and you will have your injuries to attend to," the EC official stated.

Dr. Quaicoe further emphasized that "Under no circumstance should anyone lose a strand of hair because of elections."

His remarks come amid concerns that the upcoming polls could be marred by clashes between supporters of the two major parties.

In similar news, former President and NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has promised to ensure Ghana maintains peace before, during and after the 2024 general elections.

“As we go into another election, there is often a general sense of apprehension that something will go wrong. As a member of your church, I can assure you and pledge that I am a person of peace, and if there is any violence, it won’t come from me. I will do everything to ensure that Ghana remains peaceful,” he stated.

The former President stressed that resorting to violence will be counterproductive and harm the very people the politicians wish to govern.

“If you resort to violence, it is the same people you are coming to govern. And so, I don’t think that even a single drop of any Ghanaian blood is worth political power or coming into office," Mahama added.