The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on citizens to remain calm and uphold the rule of law as the country transitions to a new political administration.
The CSOs also urged the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to step up efforts to restore order and hold accountable those responsible for any acts of lawlessness following the December 7 election.
In a statement shared with the Ghana News Agency, the CSOs expressed concern over isolated instances of post-election misconduct, urging the public to “act in the spirit of peace and unity.”
The statement followed a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Election Security Task Force, where discussions focused on vandalism and other incidents occurring after the election results were declared.
The Coalition stressed that such actions “create a tense atmosphere, which threatens the peace and stability that are the pillars of Ghana’s democracy,” and must not be tolerated.
“At this critical time of a transition, we call on all Ghanaians to remain calm, responsible, and respectful of the rule of law.
“The peaceful transfer of power is a cornerstone of Ghana’s democracy and must be safeguarded by all of us.
“We call on every Ghanaian to act in the spirit of peace and unity. Ghana’s strength lies in our commitment to peace, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power,” it said.
The Coalition includes the Forum Initiative (CFI), the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Office of the National Chief Imam, STAR Ghana Foundation, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).
The Coalition acknowledged the commendable efforts of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces in maintaining law and order.
However, it called on the security services to “remain impartial, uphold the law, and continue to ensure the safety and security of all Ghanaians.”
The Coalition also praised the intervention of President-elect John Dramani Mahama and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, both of which called for an immediate end to all acts of vandalism and violence.
“As civil society, we will remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Ghana’s democracy remains a beacon of stability and progress in the region.
“While the 7th December 2024 election was largely peaceful, the Coalition condemns these acts of lawlessness and join others to call for an immediate halt to such activities to prevent any damage to the integrity of the 2024 election process and Ghana’s democracy,” it said.
Source: GNA
