We cannot ensure peaceful transition with violence

Ghana has been lauded for holding peaceful elections this year, contrary to the fears expressed by a section of the public in the run-up to the elections as a result of the seeming unpreparedness of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The tension that built up after the elections while the whole nation sat on tenterhooks waiting for the declaration of the results by the EC also made a large number of people apprehensive that something untoward would happen.

The fears heightened when the two major political parties — the New Patriotic Party (NPP), first, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) — held press conferences proclaiming themselves winners of the elections based on the evidence they had when the EC was not forthcoming with the final results.

Thankfully, though, before the 72-hour deadline, the incumbent President conceded defeat, while the EC made a declaration that the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had won the presidential election.

The apprehension gave way to relief among all Ghanaians and widespread jubilation among supporters of the NPP, with congratulatory messages pouring in from all parts of the world.

But while we still basked in the conduct of peaceful elections, a monster reared its head to spoil the party — the destruction and seizure of public property, including tollbooths and toilets, by alleged supporters of the NPP.

The Daily Graphic, the government and the NPP have all called on the police to arrest people engaged in the destruction of public property.

We have also urged the police to arrest persons engaged in vandalism, no matter their political party colouration, while the police have also assured us that they have everything under control, having outlined certain measures to deal with the situation.

We trust in the ability of the police to deal with the situation to restore calm and the confidence of the public in them. However, we are dismayed that while the police try to deal with the excesses of jubilant NPP supporters, the NDC has held a press conference and threatened to respond in equal measure if the NPP leadership does not rein in its marauding members.

The Daily Graphic finds the pronouncement by the NDC leadership unfortunate, as we rather believe that the party must cooperate with the police for the police to do their work effectively.

We must all show that the rule of law works in the country by being law-abiding citizens.

The Daily Graphic is not in any way applauding the violence being perpetrated after the declaration of the results. We believe that the police and the other security agencies have been established by our Constitution for a time such as this to restore law and order.

Ghana has successfully held seven elections in the Fourth Republic and the upcoming transition is the third time that we have a change of government.

We cannot have a smooth and peaceful transition, as the joint transition team has pledged to ensure, if we allow the perpetration of violence to go on.

We all have a stake in ensuring that it ends immediately so that we once again receive applause from the global community for a job well done.