Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, has pointed fingers at the Electoral Commission, holding it responsible for the current political unrest and tensions gripping the nation.
According to Gbande, when the roles of national institutions are undermined, initiatives like the National Peace Council’s peace pacts become ineffective, as a weak institutional framework hinders their success.
He criticized the government’s apathy towards resolving the controversies surrounding the Ayawaso West-Wuogon by-election, citing this as a prime example of public institutions’ dereliction of duty and failure to hold those in power accountable.
“You have an Electoral Commission which is supposed to be enforcing the laws of the Commission, making sure of organizing a peaceful election [but] it doesn’t want to do that. What do you want the NDC to do?”
“We are just prepared to ensure that on the voting day, they should do something wrong because we will not sit back and allow anybody to rig the election which is what the President and the government want to do”.
Mustapha Gbande
Gbande emphasized that state institutions are neglecting their critical role in holding the President accountable, which is essential for maintaining peace, and instead, they are “dancing around the fire”, failing to take decisive action.
According to him, if Ghanaians elect former President John Mahama as their next leader, President Akufo-Addo will have no option but to peacefully transfer power to him, respecting the will of the people.
The NDC stalwart stressed that the party’s sole desire is for state institutions to fulfill their mandated roles and responsibilities, ensuring a peaceful and serene environment in the run-up to the elections.
Gbande emphasized that elections provide the most secure and peaceful means of transferring power in Ghana, citing the example of the NPP’s own rise to power through the ballot box, and predicting that they will similarly relinquish power through the electoral process.
However, he warned that if the NPP attempts to cling to power through any means other than a democratic election, Ghanaians will be prepared to resist and respond accordingly, safeguarding their right to a peaceful transfer of power.
“If people are killed and they cannot be investigated, if the Electoral Commission chooses rules as and when it wants, then…we are heading to chaos”. – Mustapha Gbande
NDC Refuses To Lead Peace Efforts Amidst Government’s Wrongful Actions
Furthermore, Mustapha Gbande argued that it is unreasonable to expect the NDC to spearhead a peace initiative when the NPP and the government are actively engaging in wrongful actions, emphasizing that true peace can only be achieved when all parties commit to doing what is right.
Gbande warned that if left unchecked, the NPP and the government’s actions will plunge the country into chaos, emphasizing that the NDC will not idly stand by while the nation is deliberately destabilized and the electoral process is manipulated.
He revealed that, in an unprecedented move, the Interior Minister, Deputy IGP, and BNI Director have convened a meeting to strategize on manipulating the upcoming election.
He indicated that it is why the NDC is insisting that the police also sign a peace agreement, to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.
“That is why this election is very crucial. This is not an ordinary election. At a time where the government has failed yet continues to say that they will rig to stay in power, no one has to sit down and watch them rig”.
“They do not want to leave through the same medium they came to power. Our proof is that even in the current [Voter Register] exhibition, the EC is doing it wrongly. It was only three days ago political parties got to see provisional register”.
Mustapha Gbande
Gbande also noted that the EC has opened a window of inclusion at the various exhibition centers without consulting political parties, which further proves that the NDC was right about the election-rigging allegation.
He stated that the EC’s action creates a breeding ground for chaos, as it prevents state institutions from performing their mandated tasks.
The NDC stalwart clarified that the party’s faith in the EC as an institution remains intact, but they suspect that the commission’s independence is being undermined by the actions of certain individuals within, who may be exerting undue influence or succumbing to external pressures.
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