By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has announced that the party will not participate in signing any peace declarations ahead of the 2024 elections. Citing past disappointments, Asiedu Nketia voiced skepticism about the efficacy of such agreements, questioning their ability to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
He emphasized that preventing violence demands concrete actions rather than mere symbolic gestures. He also criticized the tendency to prioritize peace agreements only after tensions have reached a boiling point, stressing that authorities should instead focus on addressing the underlying causes of potential violence before it erupts.
Asiedu Nketia noted that previous peace declarations, facilitated by esteemed bodies like the Council of State and the Peace Council, failed to prevent violence in the 2020 election. He also raised alarm about the clandestine recruitment of approximately 10,000 individuals into the security services, cautioning that this could be a ticking time bomb, potentially sparking unrest.