By: Maame Efua Kwaduah
The National Peace Council has acknowledged that the deaths of eight individuals during the 2020 elections have damaged Ghana’s reputation, even though the elections were generally perceived as peaceful.
Addressing a Public Forum on Media, Peace, and Democratic Consolidation in Accra, a Board Member of the National Peace Council Mrs. Joana Adjoa Opare emphasized that no election should result in the loss of life and highlighted that the Council is actively engaging with stakeholders to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Mrs. Opare cited a recent CODEO stakeholder meeting, which noted that the 2020 election deaths had negatively impacted Ghana’s image. She stressed the need for collective efforts with political parties, media, and other stakeholders to ensure Ghana remains a peaceful nation.
This comes in the wake of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) demanding specific conditions before agreeing to sign the Peace Pact proposed by the National Peace Council for the upcoming December 7 elections.
The NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, expressed doubt about the effectiveness of previous Peace Pacts, citing the unaddressed killings of eight NDC members by national security operatives during the 2020 elections.
In a meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, on August 20, 2024 Asiedu Nketia outlined six conditions for the party’s participation in the Peace Pact. These conditions include
- Full implementation of recommendations from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence investigation.
- Prosecution of those responsible for election-related violence in the 2020 elections.
- Accountability for irregularities in ballot paper printing and measures to prevent future issues.
- Investigation into missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s warehouse.
- A public commitment from the President to respect the results of the 2024 elections.
- The signing of the Peace Pact by key figures such as the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator.