Security expert at the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, Anthony Acquaye
A Security and Conflict Management Expert at the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, Anthony Acquaye, has asserted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is right with its stance on signing a peace accord for the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the demands the NDC is making before it would sign the peace pact are legitimate and must be addressed in the interest of the country’s peace.
In a statement cited by GhanaWeb, the security expert pointed out that it is very important that the violence seen during the 2020 election and some recent statements made by some political actors are addressed, as the NDC is demanding.
He added that there can never be peace if there is no justice.
“Justice, they say, is the bedrock of peace. In view of this, it is important to state unequivocally that if we are ready to make peace as a country, then the six conditions that have been requested by the NDC leadership through a negotiation approach, beginning with the demand for full implementation of the recommendations by the Emile Short Commission on the Ayawaso by-election incident, prosecution of those who killed the eight people during the 2020 general election, prosecution of persons involved in the illegal printing of voters’ ballot papers, and transparently, honestly, and publicly addressing the missing equipment at the Electoral Commission’s office should be easy for us as a peace-loving country to fulfil.
“Furthermore, the demand from President Nana Addo to publicly declare to accept the will of the people in the upcoming 2024 general elections, and the request for the signatures of the Chief Justice, Attorney General, and the Inspector General of Police on the peace pact document before the NDC signs are all realistic, achievable, and under no circumstance should a country that touts itself as a beacon of peace in Africa not be able to collectively address these issues in the best interest of Ghana to ensure peace, security, and stability,” he wrote.
The demands being made by the NDC:
The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has made it clear that the party will not commit to any peace pact ahead of the 2024 general elections unless specific conditions are met.
This stance was reiterated during a meeting with the National Peace Council on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. During the meeting, the National Peace Council urged political parties to eliminate animosity and work towards a peaceful election.
However, Asiedu Nketiah outlined the NDC’s concerns, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of past peace pacts, particularly the one signed during the 2020 elections. He pointed out that despite previous agreements, eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives during the last election without any accountability.
To address these concerns, the NDC has put forward six conditions that must be met before the party will consider signing the proposed peace pact. These conditions include:
1. Implementation of Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election recommendations:
The NDC demands that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
2. Prosecution of election-related violence perpetrators:
The party is calling for the prosecution of those responsible for the violence during the 2020 elections, stressing the need for justice and prevention of future incidents.
3. Accountability for ballot paper irregularities:
The NDC insists on accountability regarding the irregularities in the printing of ballot papers, with visible measures to prevent such issues from recurring.
4. Investigation into missing Electoral Commission IT equipment:
The party is demanding a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s warehouse, raising concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems.
5. Public commitment by the president:
Asiedu Nketiah emphasized the need for President Akufo-Addo to publicly declare his commitment to respecting the outcome of the 2024 elections.
6. Signature of key national figures:
Finally, the NDC insists that the peace pact should be signed by key figures, including the President, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief Justice, the National Security Coordinator, and the Attorney General before the NDC will consider adding its signature.
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