Echoes Of The Past Lingers As Blood Stains The Ballot - Part 1

As Ghana prepares for the 2024 General Elections, ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful election process is crucial. In light of this, the National Peace Council will as usual push for all political parties to join a Peace Pact in order to guarantee a peaceful campaign trail and election. Following the previous elections, a number of people were hurt and furious. Despite a peace agreement in place prior to the election, some individuals still lose loved ones. However, the recent refusal of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to sign the pact unless certain conditions are met raises concerns about the Peace Council's effectiveness and impartiality. This situation brings up an important question: Has the Peace Council become a passive observer amid electoral violence and injustice?

NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has made it clear that the party will not agree to any peace pact unless six specific conditions are met. These conditions include requiring the President, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief Justice, the National Security Coordinator, and the Attorney General to sign the pact. The NDC’s demand reflects a significant lack of trust in the current system, a mistrust that seems justified given recent events.

The importance of a free and fair election process cannot be overstated as the 2024 elections approach. Despite having a peace agreement in place during previous elections, violence and suffering have persisted, with some losing their lives. Is it unreasonable for the NDC, as the largest opposition party, to insist on these six conditions before committing to the Peace Pact?

The National Peace Council's silence during key instances of electoral violence has raised doubts about its role. For instance, during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019, unarmed civilians were attacked by masked security operatives. The Peace Council’s weak response to this violence did little to reassure the public that such incidents would be effectively addressed. The Council’s credibility suffered further during the 2020 General Elections when at least eight people died in Techiman South and other areas. Despite the severity of these events, the Council's response was muted, with no significant efforts to hold those responsible accountable or ensure justice for the victims. This inaction undermines the Council’s mission to promote peace and stability during elections.

The NDC’s position highlights a growing frustration with the Peace Council’s impartiality. The Council’s failure to address violence in Ayawaso West Wuogon and Techiman South suggests it has been more of a passive observer than an active participant in maintaining peace. In a political environment where security forces and the judiciary are often seen as extensions of the ruling party, it is understandable that the opposition demands greater accountability.

The National Peace Council was established to promote peace and ensure fair elections in Ghana. However, its lack of action in the face of electoral violence and reluctance to challenge those in power have raised serious doubts about its effectiveness. If the Council cannot meet basic conditions for a peaceful election—such as protecting human life and ensuring impartiality—its calls for peace may be seen as empty.

The upcoming 2024 elections will be a significant test for Ghana’s democracy. The National Peace Council needs to take a more active role in addressing the issues threatening electoral peace. This means holding all stakeholders accountable and ensuring justice for victims of violence.

The Council must move beyond advocating for peace and take concrete actions to create an environment where justice and fairness are upheld. The effectiveness of the Peace Council should be judged not by how many peace pacts it secures, but by its ability to prevent violence and ensure fair elections. The NDC’s demands should serve as a wake-up call for the Council to act decisively to protect Ghana’s democracy. The time to act is now, before it becomes too late to secure the peace that Ghanaians deserve.

By Mileba Godwin Kwame