In the lead-up to Ghana’s December 2024 elections, the former chairman of the National Peace Council Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, has voiced key concerns about maintaining peace, transparency, and moral accountability within the election process.
Rev. Asante emphasized that peaceful elections are not only a legal but also a moral responsibility, particularly when political leaders publicly commit to non-violence.
Militarization at Polling Centers
Rev. Asante expressed his views on a contentious issue of deploying military personnel to polling stations, an action that has sparked debate following statements by John Dramani Mahama, the opposition leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Meanwhile, John Mahama had called for an end to military presence at polling and coalition centers, describing it as a “recipe for chaos.”
“The ideal thing would be that you would not have military people anywhere because that could also scare off people. That’s the ideal, but are we living in the ideal situation?”
In certain places where, in their own intel, they know that there is [a] risk, perhaps you need to get them on standby to facilitate to ensure that there is a peaceful atmosphere. If you’re [even] going to be talking about peace, you need a peaceful environment to be able to discuss peace.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante former chairman of the National Peace Council
Moral Binding of Peace Commitments
Rev. Asante also addressed the moral dimensions of peace commitments, following a recent peace campaign organized by religious leaders, including the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council and the Christian Council.
Although the NDC had initially been hesitant to sign a peace pact, its leaders, along with those of other parties, publicly committed to peaceful conduct in the upcoming elections.
Rev. Asante emphasized that these public declarations, though not legally binding, hold moral weight.
“[It’s a matter of integrity], if you are vying to become leaders of our country and you stand in public to make such commitments to peaceful election… your followers and the teaming masses are looking up to you.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante former chairman of the National Peace Council
Rev. Asante urged politicians to uphold their promises, reminding them that “the public would know the type of person you are” if they failed to adhere to their peace commitments. He also pointed out that the responsibility of moral integrity lies within each leader, asserting, “Your conscience, you would have to deal with your conscience.”
The Role of the Electoral Commission
Regarding the Electoral Commission (EC) and its role in ensuring a transparent election process, Rev. Asante underscored the need for transparency and cooperation between the EC and political parties.
He noted that the EC has generally been open and communicative, but cautioned against decisions that could create suspicion or erode trust.
“If they are going to introduce anything new, it would be good to get a buy-in of the various political parties [and] discuss with them, why it is necessary for such a thing to be done. They should not do anything to create suspicion.
They should do the best that they can to enhance transparency in the entire electoral process so the Electoral Commission as the referee has a lot of things to do, [but] we should also not put too much pressure on the Electoral Commission and begin to read all sorts of things into everything that they do.”
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante former chairman of the National Peace Council
Need for Security in Conflict-Prone Areas
Rev. Asante also addressed specific challenges in areas prone to violence, such as Bawku, where conflict has historically flared around election times.
He emphasized that the presence of security forces, including the military, may be necessary to maintain peace in such regions.
Drawing on his experience as the former chair of the National Peace Council, he highlighted the need for a balanced approach.
“When there is fire…you use the military and the police to douse the flame, and then we can talk about issues that led to the flames,” he explained.
He underscored that peace can only be discussed meaningfully when safety is assured. In his view, “peace people come in” to mediate, but only once security forces have stabilized conflict zones.
Thoughts on Peace and Responsibility
In conclusion, Rev. Asante reflected on the broader responsibilities of leaders and the moral weight of their promises.
As Ghana approaches a critical election, he reiterated the importance of integrity and transparency, urging leaders to act in ways that inspire trust and peace.
He called on all parties to respect their public commitments, underscoring that in the absence of legal enforcement, moral integrity remains crucial.
