We are not all at peace!

The signing of the Peace Pact by the presidential candidates in the 2024 elections is commitment to absolute peace, and transparent and fair elections, and should be embraced by all Ghanaians, particularly the activists of political parties.

It is the responsibility of all the flagbearers to commit their supporters to the peace agreement and ensure that they put the interest of Ghana first.

However, the same political leaders should be ready to be held responsible for any kind of violence resulting from their utterances or done by their supporters.

Past peace agreements were signed by contesting presidential candidates, but there were still violent clashes in some parts of the country during the 2020 elections, which left scars in the political history of Ghana.

This country's democratic development should be the responsibility of all Ghanaians, irrespective of political affiliation.

We must all contribute meaningfully towards the growth of the nation, strive for sustainable democracy, and the transitioning of governments by peaceful and democratic means.Evidence of civil conflicts in some parts of the country is a sign of political leaders always ignoring the need to work for national peace and unity before a general election.

All conflicts, irrespective of their causes, be it chieftaincy, religious, political, etc., if not addressed, could resurface and escalate into wars. 

Examples of such conflicts are the Bawku conflict that  has lasted for so many years causing deaths, the loss of property, forced migration, and truncated education and health care.

We cannot be at peace, even when we have transparent, free and fair elections, when people in some parts of the country are not at peace and cannot move freely even within their communities.

We cannot praise ourselves for working towards a peaceful general election, when some people cannot peacefully campaign in other parts of the country to vote and select leaders to advocate development for their community, or the country in general.

Salam Ramani,
Executive Director,
Africa Peacebuilding Club.