The Catholic Bishops Conference has added its voice to calls for peaceful elections.
In a statement, President of the Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, stressed that some institutions of state including the Electoral Commission and Security Agencies bear greater responsibility and most importantly the Presidency to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.
The Most Rev. Naameh said the Presidency holds in its hands the people’s trust, and must ensure that citizens live in conditions of adequate peace and security, and also ensure a level playing field for all contestants, political parties and candidates in the December 2020 elections.
Most Rev. Philip Naameh, noted that Ghana as a democratic nation is known to have successfully conducted several elections in the Fourth Republic, and, as a country have learned from the mistakes and successes of the past that is expected to make the impending ones in December even more successful in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To maintain these democratic laurels, the Bishops were of the opinion that the Electoral Commission also has the mandate “to ensure an electoral process that is free, fair and transparent for all political parties and candidates in order to prevent people who may feel unfairly treated resorting to violence.
The Bishops also appealed to Political Parties to ensure the peaceful comportment of their members and supporters, stop vigilantism, the politics of insults, vote buying and selling, and support their candidates, both women and men, to win parliamentary seats.
Additionally, they called on Faith Based Organizations and the Clergy to desist from openly taking part in partisan politics, from preaching predictions of election results, and from pronouncing prophecies of electoral results, and the death of public personalities.
Civil Society Organizations should intensify voter and civic education, help monitor the election processes and conduct, call attention to errant behaviours and whatever would undermine the noble values of peace, tranquility and political development of the nation.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has described as un-Ghanaian, the politics of insults, abuse and disrespect in the nation’s body politic.
A statement by the Bishops said this practice is not only alien to the country but it also inhibits the free flow of diverse perspectives, rich ideas and opinions that are critically needed for nation-building and solving the complex socio-political problems facing society today.
In the view of the Prelates, closely related to this culture of insults and disrespect towards authority is a growing phenomenon of disregard and disrespect for the elderly in society.
Citing the murder of Madam Akua Denteh in Kafaba, they expressed absolute disgust at the unthinkable ordeal meted out to the 90-year-old woman.
The Bishops noted that such gruesome acts must never be tolerated in the country and must be met with severe punitive measures according to the law to serve as a deterrent for all.
