We Know The Body Responsible For Declaring Election Results In Ghana But....

It's once again here; the season of elections, the quest for power and the cover of cowards to incite violence.But the silent majority says 'Peace'.And so,let's get the issues;

"NPP will declare 2016 election results"-Peter Mac Manu, a former chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party and the Director of Elections of same is reported to have declared(See Myjoyonline.com publication of Tuesday,7th June, 2016).To add acid to base, the NPP Director of Elections further stated in the same publication...,"We cannot sit down and repeat the same (mistake we did in the 2012) in 2016".

Really? You cannot sit down and repeat the same mistake you committed in 2012 in 2016? What mistake did you commit in 2012? Is it the mistake of accusing almost anything and everything for your defeat?Is it the mistake of not training your polling agents to be vigilant enough in protecting the votes of the party at the polls? Or its the mistake of a regret for wasting the precious time of Ghanaians at the supreme court?

Well,what ever the mistake so conceived might be is none of my business. But my peace is my concern and my business.

As a matter of fact,I don't usually feel comfortable doing write - ups on partisan politics, especially,when it has anything to do with either the NPP or NDC for fear of mudslinging,columnation and unjustified vilifications.But as I said,my peace is my business and compelling concern in this matter.

Indeed, the peace of Ghana is the peace of any individual and 'free citizen' of our dear country.For this reason and to the extent that the statement of Peter Mac Manu has security implications,I deem it necessary to add my voice to the issue at stake as many well meaning Ghanaians have done already.

Infact,I'm cocksure and the facts suggest that Political Parties have always declared their own results in national elections in Ghana(You remember the declaration made by the late chairman of the NPP Jake Obetsebi Lamptey; He even went ahead to instruct the EC to hold on any declaration of results).But thankfully, the discerning and peace loving Ghanaian has always disregarded such self imposed declarations by political parties.Why? Because our political parties are fast losing integrity and the public has little trust in them when it comes to power and elections.No wonder,most people will often than not say, "we are waiting on the EC to officially declare the results".

This is a clear indication of the fact that as a people, we all know the body mandated by law to conduct and declare results of elections in our country, thus the Electoral Commission.

And so it's a bit thick and disappointing for Peter Mac Manu to make such a statement at this critical point in time....

With barely five months to go to the polls,this statement seem to suggest a clear declaration of intention by the NPP not to accept any results that does not favour them in the 2016 elections.Yes, the NPP has declared its intention to 'win the elections at all cost'... And this is a bit unsettling and worrying as it reflect a mark of "undemocratic thinking".What are they afraid of? A possible defeat!

In the nick of time, the NPP must come clear on this issue and disassociate itself from this highly irresponsible statement.

The National Peace Council and all well meaning Ghanaians must also decry in no uncertain terms this reckless statement.Let's get Mac Manu to back down and 'eat his words'.The elections of 2016 must be fought on issues not violence or threats....

Ghana is bigger than any individual or political party.We will not sit down aloof and watch any person or group of persons take this country to a ransom.Our peace is our development and freedom and we will not(With emphasis) condone any self-seeking person or group of persons who will try to gamble with and jeopardise this peace.This is the reality that all must wake - up to....

May God bless our homeland Ghana and strengthen us in unity and the national struggle.Amen.

ANANPANSAH, B ABRAHAM (AB)
University of Ghana Business School/Teacher/Community Radio youth Advocate And Presenter

024129910/0200704844