Safeguard assurance of peaceful elections
Some of the acts witnessed and various rumours and pronouncements heard in the country during election years are not palatable as they call for concern.
For instance, just days ago, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wanted to use Brigadier-General Michael Opoku, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, to rig the upcoming general election in favour of the NPP, the ruling party, by stuffing ballot boxes in the Ashanti Region, on December 7.
The NDC was specific that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had mandated Brigadier-General Opoku to take charge of a well-crafted scheme designed by the NPP to rig the upcoming election, particularly in the Ashanti Region, through ballot stuffing, swapping of ballot boxes, swapping of pink sheets, and other clandestine activities starting with the special voting exercise scheduled for December 2.
Since we cannot prove the veracity of the NDC pronouncements and others like them, we leave everything to those at the centre of them to redeem their image.
However, the concerns they raise must not be just dismissed as business as usual.
Fortunately the NDC’s National Communications Director, Sammy Gyamfi, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Chairman of the Elections Security Task Force, and his task force to get to the bottom of this election-rigging agenda.
We think similar pronouncements or rumours must as well be investigated by all the relevant institutions.
While The Ghanaian Times hopes that the powers that be would act to stem everything untoward that can affect the free expression of the will of the people in the upcoming elections and undermine the peace in the country, it finds it appropriate to encourage every effort that gives assurance of peaceful elections.
It is in the face of this that this paper wants to emphasise the assertion by President Akufo-Addo that he will transition from office with the utmost respect for the country’s democratic processes as he is committed to ensuring that the will of the citizenry prevails in the December 7 elections.
Hear him: “I want to reassure all Ghanaians that our democracy will remain steadfast and unshaken. The right to free and fair elections is non-negotiable, and I am committed to ensuring that will of the people prevails ….”
So far the President has not shown publicly through deeds or pronouncements that he has intentions to rig the elections, so until he acts otherwise, The Ghanaian Times wants to take him by his word.
In jurisdictions where presidents harbour heinous intentions to fuel their ignoble interest, some of them change constitutions, persecute their opponents or adopt schemes to intimidate voters, particularly those in opposition strongholds.
These are situations that have never occurred here in the country and cannot happen in less than two weeks to the elections.
However, the President must prove his word by making sure that the security in these few days to the elections; on the election day; and the day or two for declaration of results is handled with the utmost care.
That is not to say the security during days after the declaration of the results must be compromised.
Until January 7, when he hands over power, President Akufo-Addo must employ all legitimate means to ensure that no individual or group subverts his assurance of peaceful elections
