As the election draws near, the National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha has suggested that “by hook or crook” his party will do anything possible to win the 2024 election. This brazen remark is generating some heated debate across the political space.

“By hook or crook, we are going to win the December elections. We are going to campaign like we have never done before and that is why I am extremely confident about our victory and nothing is going to stop it.”
Salam Mustapha

Speaking at a scheduled media parley, he briefed the newsmen about his 3-day tour of the Upper West Region to reinvigorate the party machinery and most importantly, fraternize with its youth. During the stated number of days, he visited constituencies like Nandom, Lambusie, Wa East, and Wa West respectively.

In his conversation with the youth, he reechoes his view and convictions that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stands the better chance of winning so far as the North is concerned and entreated the party’s youth to campaign vigorously for Dr. Bawumia.

Error of Judgement

In an atmosphere rife with suspicion and mistrust, statements like these would only make matters worse. Some people are of the view that this is probably an error in judgment. concerning the statement, what many are worried about is the potential impact of the statement on the opposition’s posture toward the ruling party, and by extension government and the EC.

Reacting to what it considers a stolen mandate, NDC has not considered defeat and neither has it called to congratulate the president despite a substantive supreme court verdict exonerating the EC thus validating Nana Addo’s win.

NDC Strongly holds the view that the orchestration capitalized by the President to oust Madam Charlotte Osei as the EC chairperson was an integral part of a grand scheme adopted to rig the 2020 elections, and they are not prepared to have a repeat of the same this year.

Moreso, the timing is also highly inappropriate. Coming barely a few days after the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) helped brokered a détente between the Electoral Commission (EC) on the one hand and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pronouncements like these would further erode trust and the little understanding generated from that crucial meeting.

Potential for Escalation

The full implication of the statement cannot be ascertained, it may only be known post-election the election itself. Should the NDC emerge victorious, then there will be no need for grumbling. In invent of it losing, this could be the cannon fodder that the party needs to galvanize its base happening. Despite returning to IPAC, the NDC’s doubt, mistrust, and suspicion of the easy lingers.

The ruling party and the government must tread cautiously, Party officials must be guarded in their statements. The utterance that can charge the atmosphere by inflaming passion should be avoided by all irrespective of the political parties.

The EC on its part must tactfully manage this situation to boost confidence in its independence, or else the elections would be marred in controversy. It must always not be seen to be in cahoots with the governing party.

Scrutiny of the election and processes leading the polls have begun. The prying eye of political parties and civil society organizations will be on Madam Jean Mensah and her team.

A proven track record

Ghana’s Electoral Commission is one of the few trustworthy electoral agencies on the continent. Despite the elections of 2012 and 2020 ending up in court, the EC’s unblemished records are there for all to see. Since 1992, the country has had many successful elections and peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another.

Ghana’s enviable record as a stable democracy would be incomplete without acknowledging the role played by the Electoral Commission. As the main body tasked with conducting periodic and credible elections, the EC must be proud of its accomplishment.

Again, it must view this utterance and the various reactions across various quarters as a moment to affirm the pact the institution has with Ghanaians to always ensure that their votes count at the end of the day.