By Christopher Arko
Accra, Oct.08, GNA – The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) will host the Ghana Speaks High-Level Forum 2024 on October 10.
The conference will discuss the political and security conditions in the country considering the upcoming December 7 elections around the theme, “Advancing Peace, Unity, and National Cohesion in Ghana.”
The forum will provide a platform for interactive dialogue and collective action among distinguished individuals and stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, academia, traditional and faith-based leaders, youth organizations, women’s groups, state agencies, private sector organizations, the media, and the public.
The keynote speaker is Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Studies in Rome, while Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, the Chairman of the National Peace Council of Ghana, will chair the occasion.
The objective of the forum is to urge leaders to leverage their influence to secure peace in the 2024 elections and beyond, enhance public confidence in electoral institutions and processes for the acceptance of the 2024 results, and encourage political parties to commit to signing a peace pact. Additionally, it aims to empower citizens to prioritize peace, unity, and national cohesion.
On December 7, 2024, Ghana will hold its ninth consecutive presidential and parliamentary elections since the return to democratic rule in 1992.
These elections have witnessed smooth political power transitions, highlighting the country’s growing constitutional order. However, the evolution of Ghana’s political landscape has experienced a disturbing growing relationship between political parties and armed vigilante groups particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, fuelling concerns about possible election violence.
Beyond the general anxiety associated with Presidential and Parliamentary elections, a spectre of electoral violence looms large over the 2024 elections.
The 2020 elections, stained by bloodshed and escalating activities of militant groups, left a deep wound of mistrust and fear. This combustible mix, further fuelled by political ambition and the unsettling presence of external violent-extremist security threats in the West African sub-region, creates a volatile security environment that demands immediate and comprehensive intervention.
There is evidence that the political and security conditions that threatened the peaceful and credible outcomes of the 2020 elections persist and have not abated. This threatens the peace, security, and stability of Ghana and undermines national and local development. When peace prevails, investors are confident in committing resources, which generates jobs and improves the standard of living.
Also, the IDEG-CFI analysis of the contextual political and security conditions in the country, highlight an ominous situation that could lead to inconclusive polls and an outbreak of mass electoral violence if not addressed.
Critical factors that underpin the anxiety and the risk of inconclusive polls and an outbreak of mass electoral violence in 2024 and beyond include the following:
First, is the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) threat not to sign the peace pact unless the acts of electoral violence in the 2020 elections that led to the death of eight citizens from gunshots fired by parallel-security forces, are investigated and the perpetrators punished. The Peace Pact has been an effective catalyst for steering presidential candidates towards judicial adjudication of election disputes and the NDC stance, poses a threat to peaceful elections.
Second is the NDC’s nationwide demonstration on September 17, 2024, to press their demand for an independent audit of the voter register with claims of it being marred by irregularities such as unauthorized voter transfers and missing names. The party fears these issues could disenfranchise citizens, leading to unfair elections and undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Third is the abuse of mainstream and new media platforms to undermine credibility of elections. The pluralisation of media platforms including social media channels have become the major means through which politicians carry their messages across to the voting public. However, over the past decade, more evidence has emerged of the growth and use of disruptive social forces and technology to promote impunity and undermine the integrity of parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.
According to the NCA, most of the over 500 radio FM stations are largely owned by politicians with well-known party affiliations. If unregulated, hate speech, fake news, disinformation and propaganda are likely to dominate the campaign over the airwaves; a situation that has over the years been exploited by defeated candidates to reject the credibility and acceptability of election results.
Fourth is the growing use of violence-laced language to whip up the party support base. Public declarations by the two leading political parties in the run-up to the 2024 elections have largely centred on the use of inflammatory language rather than their policy proposals.
For instance, the ruling NPP’s adoption of the “break-the-8-slogan” and attendant incendiary statements such as “we will never hand over power to the NDC” and the NDC’s combustible statement that the “NDC has a history of unleashing violence,” has re-awakened public consciousness on the threats that lie ahead.
Fifth is the re-emergence of political party vigilantes. Despite the enactment of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999), Presidential and Parliamentary elections continue to experience the patronage of vigilante groups (armed private security) by political parties. With declining confidence in the state security apparatus, political parties appear empowered to patronize the services of armed private security men ahead of the 2024 elections.
Sixth is the weak citizens-led actions and structures against electoral violence. The voting processes on election day by citizens are usually carried out smoothly except in communities designated as flashpoints. However, beyond the casting of ballots, citizens’ role in diffusing potential violence threats is minimal due to the absence of an independent platform to coordinate actions.
Seventh is the issue of illegal mining, known as “Galamsey”, which is deeply entrenched in Ghana, fuelled by economic desperation and the involvement of powerful political figures. Despite its severe environmental, social, and economic consequences, there is a notable lack of political will to effectively address the problem.
Many believe that those in power protect Galamsey operators due to political ties or financial interests. Furthermore, the two main political parties, NDC and NPP, have often leveraged Galamsey for partisan gain. In the upcoming 2024 elections, influential supporters of Galamsey—such as politicians and party financiers—are likely to back parties that will safeguard their interests. Additionally, the struggle for control over lucrative mining areas could lead to electoral violence as factions compete for power and vulnerable unemployed youth are used as tools of violence by political actors seeking to protect their interests.
Lastly, political instability in the West African sub-region poses a threat to Ghana’s democracy. Recent coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger and the failed attempted coup in Benin highlight the potential for regional spillover effects, adding to the challenges Ghana faces in maintaining its democratic stability. Ahead of the December 7 elections, Ghana’s credentials as the beacon of democracy in the subregion of Africa will be tested.
In addition, the IDEG – CFI proposal recommends the establishment of an independent mediation committee by the government as a matter of urgency to mediate on electoral issues since the Peace Council has been implicated in the grievances of the political parties contesting the December 7 elections.
It calls on civil society to play a key role in the formation of the independent mediation committee to ensure a fair, transparent and neutral representation. The independent mediation committee shall be made up of eminent citizens and professionals with no political affiliation or from well-balanced political party representation.
The Committee shall seek to amicably resolve the issues of concern raised by aggrieved parties and stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to get the political parties to commit to signing the peace pact to affirm their stance to peaceful and credible elections and against electoral violence and impunity.
Though some of the grievances may not be resolved before the December elections, it is important for the mediation committee’s work to continue thereafter until all issues are satisfactorily resolved. It is crucial for the work of the mediation committee to lead to a reconciliation of the political parties towards peaceful and credible elections for inclusive transformational development.
GNA