2024 polls: 'Elections not call to war,' cage warmongers to safeguard Ghana's peace — AEI to police

Civil society group, African Electoral Institute ((AEI), says it has noted "with deep concern" the utterances of certain political activists during campaigns or on political platforms and wishes "to plead with them to eschew the use of incendiary language that has the potential to derail the forward match of our democracy if care is not taken."

The Institute, in a statement dated 13 August 2024, said with part of its core objectives being to ensure good governance and accountability in Ghana's electoral processes, it wishes "to bring to the attention of all political parties and their assignees to focus on peaceful elections , by being responsible in their utterances as the nation gears up for the December 7th 2024 general elections."

"The AEI acknowledges the significance of this electoral process and must remind all stakeholders that our words have consequences irrespective of where they are said and should be wary of that," urging: "Inflammatory language anywhere should not be encouraged or entertained since they have the potential of sowing seed of discord, fueling unnecessary anxiety among citizens, and potentially destabilising our beloved country."

It added: "Let’s all be reminded of the meaning of multiparty democracy which is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution."

The group said Ghana's Constitution allows for healthy, divergent views and "has clearly stated how power should be won, and that is by winning elections conducted by the Electoral Commission in a free, fair, transparent and accountable manner and the ultimate winner declared as such by the Chair of the Electoral Commission."

The group asserted: "Any other means aside from what the Constitution has stipulated, will be illegal, unlawful, and will be tantamount to usurping the power of the people through unconventional means, which is unacceptable."

The African Electoral Institute encouraged the security services, including National Security "to take such utterances that have the potential to jeopardise our democracy and country seriously by arresting or inviting such people for investigation and where possible, put them before the law courts to have them dealt with," warning: "It is dangerous to always sweep such issues under the carpet because one can not tell how their audience interpret or think about such messages before it is too late."

"The Institute urges all political actors to prioritise constructive dialogue, respect for each other, and peaceful competition," it added, noting: "Elections are a competition and not a call to war and as such let us focus on issues, policies, and the vision they have for Ghanaians now and the future, rather than resorting to fear-mongering or stoking fire where there is none."

The AEI appealled to "all well-meaning Ghanaians, the clergy, civil society organisations (CSOs), Council of State, the Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Christian Council, Office of the Chief Imam and the Muslim Council, the Peace Council and the international community in Ghana to use their advice and influence to bring to bare on all of us to do the right thing to further entrench our democracy and country come 7th December 2024."

—Classfmonline