As Ghana approaches the 2024 general elections, concerns about electoral violence and its dire consequences are once again in the spotlight.
A significant deadlock between the National Peace Council (NPC) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has cast a shadow over efforts to safeguard the country’s peace.
The stalemate is rooted in the opposition NDC’s hesitance to sign a peace pact, attributing its position to a series of grievances and a perceived failure by the NPC and other state institutions to address the aftermath of past electoral violence.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, commenting on the vexed matter, expressed deep concern over the persistent failure of successive governments to address the scourge of violence that has marred the country’s elections.
His call for action is not just a plea for justice, but a sobering reminder of the bloody legacy that continues to haunt Ghana’s democratic process, highlighting the grim reality that has plagued Ghana’s electoral history.
He pointed to the 2020 general elections, which resulted in the tragic loss of eight lives and numerous injuries, as a stark example of the violence that has become a recurring feature of the country’s elections.
“Sometimes you ask yourself, why are our leaders not worried about these electoral violence and electoral deaths? Our hands are so bloody and we must be worried as a country. It is not only in the 2020 [general elections], almost all the elections, there is a record of death. But again, the recent one is the eight that we recorded in 2020”.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
Reverend Opuni-Frimpong’s words carry significant weight, especially as they resonate with the broader public sentiment that Ghana’s electoral process, despite being touted as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, is tainted by violence and bloodshed.
His call for the government to act on the recommendations made following the violence during past elections is a call for accountability and transparency.
“For me, going into the 2024 election, if the government and the Ghana Police Service can give Ghanaians evidence that at least even if we have not come to completion [of investigations], the process is [ongoing and] we know those people we are prosecuting, they will add to the peace process”.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
The Reverend’s demand for justice is clear: those responsible for the deaths during the 2020 elections must be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable.
He further suggested that compensation be provided to the families of the victims, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to healing the wounds inflicted by electoral violence.
“We must find those people who killed the eight people and prosecute them, and if need be, even find compensation for those they have left behind,” he stated.
Political Parties Urged to Condemn Violent Rhetoric’s
However, Reverend Opuni-Frimpong’s critique extended beyond the government and law enforcement. He called on political parties to take responsibility for their role in fostering an environment where violence can thrive.
Reverend Opuni-Frimpong also urged political leaders to address any utterances or actions within their ranks that have the potential to incite violence and to do so with urgency.
“The parties themselves, they have mature men and women in those parties who must, you know, behind the scenes, close door meetings, heal the wounds among themselves, and who must talk to their people”.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
The former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana fervently decried the reluctance of political parties to publicly condemn violent rhetoric or actions from within their own ranks.
He stressed the critical need for party members to speak out against such behaviour, describing it as a call for moral courage and leadership.
“It is very worrying that when their people come out, you can’t get a single person in the NPP going public that, yes, you are part of us, but this comment is unacceptable. You don’t get somebody from NDC [either]”.
Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
As Ghana prepares for another electoral cycle, the concerns raised by Reverend Opuni-Frimpong cannot be ignored.
The violence that has marred past elections threatens not only the lives of citizens but the very fabric of Ghana’s democracy.
His call to action is a critical reminder that the success of the upcoming elections will not be measured solely by the votes cast but by the safety and security of all Ghanaians.
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