Three statesmen have urged the Electoral Commission (EC) and all relevant stakeholders involved in the election process to uphold the rule of law ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday.
They are Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Professor Frimpong Boateng, and Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo Mensah (rtd).
According to them, upholding the rule of law would help preserve the peace and security of the country before, during, and after the December 7 elections.
The statesmen were speaking at a press conference held in Accra yesterday to engage the public through the media on the upcoming election.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe urged the chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jane Adukwei Mensa, to ensure that the upcoming election was conducted with upmost integrity.
He further called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure a smooth transition of power and also ensure that the EC and all state institutions acted in a way that upholds the trust and confidence of the citizenry.
“To President Nana Akufo-Addo, who has twice witnessed the peaceful transfer of power, we remind you of the precedents set in 2016 and 2020. Though these moments reflected the strength of our democracy and the respect for the will of the people, you must now demonstrate that same commitment to peace and fairness, ensuring that the Electoral Commission and all state institutions act in a way that upholds the trust and confidence of the citizenry,” Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said.
Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe noted that the media played an important role in shaping public opinion and discourse and therefore urged them to be circumspect in their reportage before, during, and after the elections.
Moreover, he advised the security agencies to display a high level of professionalism and discharge their duties without any form of impartiality while protecting the citizenry from electoral violence.
Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said he was disappointed with the security personnel who were allegedly captured in a video receiving food that was allegedly distributed by the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan, during the special voting held on Monday.
According to him, such an act did put the integrity and reputation of the security services on the line and therefore called on the leadership of the security services to act on the issue.
He urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, not to relent in arresting individuals who make inflammatory statements that could jeopardise the peace and security of the country.
That notwithstanding, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe stressed a need to strengthen institutions, especially the Electoral Commission, to act without fear or favour.
For his part, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah (rtd) urged the citizenry, particularly the youth, as well as the media to stand for the truth irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnic background.
Prof. Frimpong Boateng, in a brief remark, cautioned political party leaders and communicators to be mindful of their utterances ahead of the election in order to protect the peace of the country.
BY BENJAMIN
ARCTON-TETTEY
