Accra, July 23, GNA – The Eminent Persons Group of Religious Leaders in Ghana has condemned the pockets of violence emerging in some registration centres on the ongoing voter registration exercise.
The Group referred to places like Banda, Ledzokuku, Asutifi South and Kasoa among other centres that have recorded some violence and called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Inspector General of Police to conduct a prompt investigation into the alleged use of firearms by certain persons, including a Minister of State.
A statement signed by the Right Reverend Professor J.O.Y. Mante, Chairman, Eminent Persons Group of Religious Leaders and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Ghana, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the Police should also continue to investigate the death that has occurred in the course of this registration exercise and come out with a conclusive action.
“All those responsible are to be held accountable.
“Such high-profile incidents should not be countenanced by our State Security. Acts or threats of coercion, intimidation or physical harm perpetrated to affect the electoral process, all in the context of electoral competition should have no place in these worrying times with COVID-19 hanging over us.”
The statement said violence aimed at skewing the playing field well upstream of elections presents difficulties for not only election administrators but all of Ghanaians, who were trying to hold credible elections, and finding effective options for preventing it or mitigating against its effects.
“Violence by powerful incumbents, like the Minister should be condemned by all well-meaning Ghanaians. Addressing the current situation involving Honourable Hawa Koomson will assure confidence and trust in our EC and the security ahead of the 2020 elections. Pre-election violence itself can damage the credibility of elections as much as flawed elections may spark violence” the statement said.
The statement, therefore, called on State authorities to uphold the human rights of all Ghanaians, including the freedom of assembly, association and expression.
“We urge all Ghanaians, especially the political parties to reject violence and avoid using inflammatory language, but rather use peaceful and legal means to challenge results and outcomes.”
The EC should develop a fraud-prevention strategy, which should be explained to the extent that “doing so would not undermine its effectiveness — to political parties to help build confidence in the process and results.
A publicity campaign by the EC explaining the importance of fraud prevention could also promote confidence, it said.
The EPG also called for a large-scale civic education campaign by the NCCE to ensure peaceful participation in the registration process, especially using the state media.
The National Media Commission should try and clamp down on the use of inflammatory language in the mass media, by a partnership with civil society to monitoring media content.
“We urge civil society observer groups to be vigilant in monitoring the election processes and make sure that all violent acts or any propensities for violent acts are exposed, named and shamed.
“We call on all Ghanaians to safeguard the hard-won gains made in consolidating peace and democracy and urge them to resolve their differences through dialogue”.
GNA