As Ghana prepares for its December elections, the National Peace Council has a critical role to play in promoting a peaceful environment.
Given the current political tensions and previous unresolved tensions from the last election year, the Council’s contributions are more crucial than ever.
Through mediation and dialogue, the Council facilitates discussions among political parties, stakeholders, and communities to address grievances and resolve conflicts.
This helps to reduce tensions and promotes peaceful coexistence.
The Council’s peace education and awareness programs promote tolerance, non-violence, and peaceful behavior among citizens.
By engaging with local communities, the Council empowers them to take ownership of the peace process.
Accordingly, Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has strongly criticized the National Peace Council for its inadequacy in promoting peace and stability in the run-up to the December elections, accusing them of not taking sufficient action to prevent potential conflicts.
Franklin Cudjoe urged the National Peace Council to intensify its efforts to promote peace, stating that its current initiatives are insufficient and fall short of what is required to ensure a peaceful environment.
“We have started this peace business again. I expected the Peace Council to call out the President and his government for doing nothing about the deliberate killing of seven innocent Ghanaians by the security forces in the last election. Not even an apology has been rendered, let alone punishment meted out to the culprits”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe noted that the National Peace Council utilizes early warning mechanisms to identify potential flashpoints, allowing for swift and proactive interventions to prevent the escalation of violence.
As such, he stated that by engaging with youth groups, the Council empowers them to become peace ambassadors, reducing the risk of youth involvement in violence.
He indicated that collaboration with stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, security agencies, civil society, religious leaders, and traditional authorities, ensures a unified approach to promoting peace.
Promoting Peaceful Elections through Mediation And Accountability
Moreover, the National Peace Council fosters a peaceful electoral environment by mediating a peace pact among political parties and actors, which holds them accountable for upholding peaceful practices and refraining from violence during the elections.
Franklin Cudjoe also sounded the alarm on a disturbing trend, where some political operatives are deliberately fueling violence by using incendiary and inflammatory language.
As such, he suggested that the Peace Council should first rein in these rogue elements and hold them accountable for their actions before encouraging citizens and political parties to sign peace pacts and commit to non-violence.
In addition, the Council must provide post-election mediation mechanisms to manage and resolve any disputes or grievances that may arise, ensuring a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.
“By the way, what has the Peace Council said about the capricious, deadly economic decisions that have killed some prematurely and pushed nearly a million people into deeper poverty? How can there be peace when your savings are literally pickpocketed?”
Franklin Cudjoe
Franklin Cudjoe further emphasized that there can be no peace when the government and the Electoral Commission (EC) collude to deliberately exclude and disenfranchise the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL).
Accordingly, he emphasized that the National Peace Council’s contributions are indispensable to ensuring the integrity and tranquility of Ghana’s electoral process.
Through its multifaceted approach, the National Peace Council mitigates political tensions, prevents violence, and promotes a peaceful electoral process, safeguarding Ghana’s stability and democratic gains.
Most importantly, the Council should work with civil society organizations to monitor and report potential hotspots as early warning systems can help prevent violence and ensure prompt interventions.
By taking these steps, the National Peace Council can help mitigate political tensions, promote peaceful coexistence, and ensure a credible electoral process. Ghana’s stability and democratic gains depend on it.
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