The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has appealed to political parties, particularly the NPP and NDC to show leadership and expunge from their structures as well as dissociate themselves completely from unregulated security bodies.
He said these groups are likely to stir a political climate of intolerance and violence that cannot be conducive and helpful in the run up to the December 7 elections.
Dr. Chambas also called on Ghanaians to commit individually and collectively, to working towards credible and peaceful elections.
He was speaking at a ‘National Stakeholder’s Dialogue to promote peaceful elections in Ghana’ in Kumasi. It was organised by the National Peace Council in partnership with the UN.
Dr. Chambas said Ghana has over the years demonstrated exemplary conduct in elections with a proven track record of national ownership and managing peaceful transitions. He said apart from the observer mission, a technical team will also be dispatched to assist in the monitoring process.
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Baba Gana Wakil, said ECOWAS is sending a 100-member Election Observer Mission for Ghana’s general election. He urged, especially the youth to make use of valuable existing mechanisms for dialogue and dispute resolution to bridge differences and minimise the potential for violence.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah explained that elections are neither about political opponents engaging in violence nor insults, but rather about selling one’s manifesto to the electorate.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Roland Affail Monney, asked the media to be circumspect in their reportage.
