The Frimpong-Manso Institute has issued a pressing call for peaceful and violence-free elections in Ghana’s upcoming 2024 general election.
In a press release coinciding with the International Day of Peace on September 21st, the Institute urged citizens, particularly young people, to be proactive agents of change.
The statement emphasized the importance of dismantling structures that entrench political hatred and promoted civic education, political accountability, and security preparedness as key actions to ensure peaceful elections.
The Institute highlighted that while Ghana’s elections have been relatively peaceful since 1992, there has been an increasing trend of election-related violence in recent years.
It further stressed on the fact that peaceful elections are crucial for political stability, economic growth, and equitable resource distribution in the country.
Find below the press release:
PRESS RELEASE: MAKE THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS PEACEFUL AND VIOLENCE-FREE
Annually, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21st September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
This year, the theme is “Actions for Peace: Our Commitment to the #GlobalGoals”, a directive that underscores our joint and individual commitment to nurture peace, globally.
On the celebration of this year’s International Day of Peace, the Frimpong-Manso Institute urges all citizens (especially young people globally) particularly those countries where elections have been held and other countries like Ghana where elections will be held this year and where there are wars and conflicts to be proactive, agents of societal change, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building a foundation for enduring peace.
It is important, however, to note that, attaining true and enduring peace in any modern democratic society, entails much more than just policies, laws, and regulations. It entails the purposeful construction of thriving societies, where all members are confident and feel assured that they can work towards achieving their God-given dreams and aspirations, without any form of interference from either the state or ideological opponents.
It involves creating communities and a nation with fundamental human rights values, where people are not only respected but also respected and treated equally, regardless of their sex, political or religious affiliation.
In essence, nurturing peaceful and violent free societies, is a requirement for a thriving and prosperous nation, an unparalleled guarantee of sustainability and assurance for the next generation, particularly, women and youth.
As this year’s International Day of Peace has coincided with the 9th edition of our national elections, since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992, let us aim to foster more peaceful, just, and inclusive communities devoid of fear and violence.
Let us use the Day to remind ourselves that we can only succeed, as a nation, when we celebrate our diversity, engage and appreciate everyone’s contribution as a key ingredient to help sustain our democracy.
Although, historically, our elections have been adjudged to be relatively peaceful, since 1992, it has also been observed that the climate of political elections in the country keeps changing as outbreaks of election-related violence have been increasing with each election year. It now appears that, with each election cycle, electoral violence, and destruction of property become part of the outcome.
Academic and policy-focused studies on Ghana’s electoral violence have all shown that Ghana’s successive presidential, parliamentary, by-elections and re-runs have all been characterized by some form of violence since 1992. Consequently, in our collective effort to make this year’s election peaceful and violence free, for a more sustainable and flourishing Ghana, we are urging every Ghanaian, to heed the Frimpong-Manso Institute’s iinvitation for us to work together to dismantle the physical and ideological structures that entrench political hatred in our society.
Let us promote equality and respect for human rights, and good governance, during the upcoming 2024 general election.
Let’s be bold and play our individual and collective roles to foster a peaceful and non-violence election this year. Let’s use the International Day of Peace as a beacon of our collective mission to speak out against hate speech – both offline and online.
Let’s remind each other that preventing electoral violence is a key factor in the support of all functioning democratic societies in our contemporary times.
Call to Action:
To ensure a peaceful and violence-free election, we must take decisive actions that go beyond rhetoric:
1. Civic Education: We must all be involved in educating citizens, especially the youth, on the importance of peaceful elections and the impact of violence on national development.
2. Political Accountability: We should hold political parties and candidates accountable for their conduct during campaigns, ensuring they adhere to codes of conduct that promote peace and tolerance.
3. Security Preparedness: We must strengthen security measures to prevent and respond swiftly to any outbreak of violence, ensuring the safety of voters and electoral officials.
4. Promote Dialogue: Let us all encourage dialogue between political opponents to foster understanding and reduce tensions. This includes using platforms such as the International Day of Peace to initiate peace-building conversations.
Conclusion:
The success of this year’s democratic elections depends on our collective
ability to ensure peaceful elections. Peaceful and credible elections are not only a cornerstone of democratic governance but also a prerequisite for socio-economic development.
When elections are conducted peacefully, they pave the way for political stability, which in turn attracts investment, fosters economic growth, and ensures a more equitable distribution of resources.
Together, we can guide our nation and world toward a future that is united, fairer, just, prosperous, and secure for all. Let us vote for a peaceful and Violent Free Ghana, in 2024.
Click on the link to join the OnlineTimesGH News channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for
YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VajF89Q6WaKprDT5mu2V
