The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on political parties and other stakeholders in Ghana’s democratic process to place confidence and trust in the Electoral Commission of Ghana to address challenges associated with the country’s electoral process.
The Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amoh emphasized the necessity of collaboration and adherence to established procedures to ensure the smooth conduct of elections.
“We must be careful the way and manner we portray the EC in our efforts to ensure transparency, fairness and credibility in its processes. Let us be careful not to push the EC into a situation where Ghanaians do not trust whatever the EC does”.
George Amoh, Executive Secretary National Peace Council
Mr. Amoh further recounted that the Electoral Commission of Ghana has implemented one of the most thorough processes globally to resolve issues related to voters’ registration and election conduct.
He thus urged stakeholders, including political parties and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to engage constructively with these processes to maintain the integrity of elections.
Mr Amoah also called on all stakeholders, particularly political parties, to utilize laid-down procedures to address any concerns regarding the Electoral Commission’s activities.
Addressing Voter Registration Issues
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amoh also advised political parties and their agents against making hasty allegations and judgments about individuals’ eligibility based on their appearance.
He underscored the need for political parties and their respective agents in the various registration centres to follow the laid-down procedures to challenge the eligibility of voters.
Mr Amoah emphasized that the usage of prescribed procedures to challenge the eligibility of voters would prevent the unfortunate incidents of physical confrontations at registration centers.
Furthermore, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council while condemning physical confrontation by agents and supporters of political parties in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise also urged all stakeholders to encourage all eligible persons to register to foster a more inclusive and democratic process.
Mr Amoah called on stakeholders to avoid generalizing some instances of violence, arrests, and intimidation that have occurred at some registration centers to taint the credibility of the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
In addition, Mr Amoh pointed out the significant cost implications of deploying security personnel and political party agents, suggesting a need for greater efficiency and adherence to legal frameworks.
Fostering Collaboration Through IPAC
Highlighting the role of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) of the country’s electoral management practices, Mr. Amoh commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for returning to the forum.
Despite what he describes as the historical tensions between the opposition National Democratic Congress and the Electoral Commission, Mr. Amoh noted with optimism that the return of the party would help the work of the commission.
He called on all stakeholders, particularly the opposition party and the Electoral Commission to build and improve upon the relationship between the two bodies ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council concluded his remarks by stating that the council has established a new platform that would seek to address and mediate the concerns of various political parties regarding the activities of the Electoral Commission.
The initiative, he posited underscores the National Peace Council’s commitment to fostering a cooperative and trustful environment for all stakeholders involved in Ghana’s electoral process.
Mr. Amoh emphasized the importance of legal adherence, constructive engagement, and post-election dialogue in ensuring the credibility and fairness of the electoral process, stressing that by working together and respecting established procedures, stakeholders can contribute to a more robust and democratic electoral system in Ghana.
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