Kofi Totobi Quakyi, a prominent NDC stalwart and former Minister of Information under the Provisional National Defence Council, has called on the security services to avoid reinforcing public perceptions of bias or exacerbating the divisions that already pose a serious threat to national unity during the ongoing elections.
Quakyi emphasized that voting day should not be viewed as an opportunity for war games.
Any misstep or miscalculation, he warned, could push the nation into a state of chaos, potentially undoing decades of progress painstakingly achieved since the establishment of our Fourth Republic.
“Your actions on this day must inspire confidence, not suspicion; hope, not fear; and unity, not discord. I implore you to reflect on the sacred oaths you swore – not to any party or leader but to the people and the Republic.
“Your duty transcends personal allegiance or obedience to any superior. You have sworn an oath to serve the people and the constitution of the Republic, not individuals or transient political interests. I urge you to reject unlawful orders with courage and fidelity to the law”.
Kofi Totobi Quakyi
Quakyi further urged the security services to find the strength to resist any attempts to integrate party thugs into their ranks or allow such individuals to wear their uniforms, use their equipment, or operate under their authority to incite violence or harm innocent Ghanaians.
He expressed his deep gratitude to the security forces, invoking both God and country, and encouraged them to remain resolute in their dedication to maintaining peace and stability.
Reflecting on his past experience, Quakyi recalled serving as the National Security Minister during the 2000 presidential election, when he oversaw the country’s first peaceful democratic transition of political power since Ghana’s independence some 40 years earlier.
He noted that the outcome of that election did not favor his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), nor his respected candidate, the late Professor J.E.A. Mills, a true man of peace. “The lost opportunity to further the work of nation building was a disappointment”.
Quakyi also remarked that it is one of his greatest privileges to have played a critical role in affirming the nation’s commitment to the high ideals of freedom, justice, and democracy.
He added that his task was made easier due to the peaceful nature of the losing candidate, Professor Atta Mills, and the stance of the outgoing President, Jerry John Rawlings, who was determined to preserve both democracy and his legacy of political stability.
Quakyi Warns of Trust Crisis
Furthermore, Kofi Totobi Quakyi observed that, much like today, the 2000 election was marked by immense pressure, high stakes, and intense emotions.
He noted that, however, Ghana prioritized the national interest above all else, ensuring that every decision was rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Quakyi expressed pride that Ghana emerged from that transition not only intact but stronger, with its democratic foundations strengthened and its reputation as a pillar of stability in the region solidified.
“Our foremost consideration was not the fortunes of any individual or party but the enduring stability, peace, and integrity of Ghana.
“Today, on the eve of the 2024 election, the utter collapse of trust in public institutions should be a matter of grave concern for all people of conscience. We face an election where many Ghanaians harbor doubts about the fairness of the referee”.
Quakyi noted that this widespread sense of uncertainty is further fueled by a growing belief that the courts are compromised and that law enforcement by security services is selective.
He also pointed out that institutions once respected for their neutrality, such as the Peace Council, have become almost irrelevant over time. “The screeching partisanship of the media and the tagging of dissenting voices have only added fuel to the fire”.
He observed that tensions are already at a dangerous level, and public sentiment has turned deeply negative.
Quakyi lamented that the public is teetering on the edge of a powder keg, and it is the actions — or lack thereof — by the leadership of the national security forces that will determine whether we emerge unscathed or consumed by chaos.
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