President’s assurance laudable, timely

As the nation prepares for the December 7 polls this year, all attention is on how to hold the nation together in peace and stability.

With barely 86 days to the crucial elections we cannot as a nation be complacent but remain focused and purposeful to manage successfully the process leading to the elections.

It is in this regard that we consider the assurance by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to uphold the peace and stability of the country before, during and after the elections as timely and laudable.

The assurance, given by our President at the inauguration of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs last Thursday in Techiman cannot be overemphasised. This is because it is not the first time he has given such important assurances as the nation prepares for a major national election.

In our view however, President’s call can only be potent in the collective involvement of all stakeholders.

We need all hands on deck to ensure that the country maintains its global reputation in democratic governance and administration.

The President’s assurance alone, no matter how great it is, cannot be realised if other primary stakeholders in the electoral process, including political parties, presidential and parliamentary aspirants do not support his call.

It is therefore important for everyone to play their part to make the call for peace before, during and after the elections a reality.

To achieve this, it is incumbent on all stakeholders to ensure that during this preparatory period, while candidates are canvassing for votes and support from the public, they engage in politics of decency devoid of insults and focus on issue-based discourse.

We need to urgently do away with the mistrust of the security agencies and the Electoral Commission (EC) and stop the peddling of falsehoods.

For us on the Daily Graphic, we expect and are certain that the election management body, the EC, will conduct a free, fair and transparent elections.

Nevertheless, we expect the EC to increase public engagements and deepen its accountability mechanisms, including working more closely with the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) to enhance public confidence in the activities of the commission.

We expect the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to vigorously educate the public on the perils of violence, and the importance of national cohesion, among other concepts, in order to instil in the Ghanaian electorate a sense of patriotism.

We also expect civil society organisations (CSOs) to continue their advocacy for peace and stability while deepening their support for good governance. The CSOs must focus on influencing consciousness aimed at building in Ghanaians a spirit and sense of patriotism, especially, with a view to curbing politically related violence.

In the same breath, we expect the media to rise up to their watchdog role and hold other stakeholders accountable. The media must engage in reportage devoid of partisanship and sensationalism.

Again, we expect the security agencies to maintain a high professional standard and execute their mandate without fear or favour. Anything short of this will not help grow the country’s democratic culture.

We will also like to reiterate the call by the Peace Council for political parties to disband their vigilante groups to forestall any elections-related violence.