Dr Akwetey receives award for Peace, Social Justice
The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, has been honoured with the 2015 “Martin Luther King Jr Award for Peace and Social Justice”.
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The award is in recognition of his role in advancing the country’s elections and governance agenda.
Presenting the award at a ceremony in Accra yesterday, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gene Cretz, said the award was presented to activists who promoted social justice, stability, human rights and peace through non-violent means.
The award
The “Martin Luther King Jr Award for Peace and Social Justice” was instituted by the United States Embassy in Accra in 2008 to recognise Ghanaians who personify the philosophy and actions of Dr Martin Luther King Jr by working to build a culture of peacemaking, dialogue and conflict resolution.
According to Mr Cretz, Dr Akwetey’s work had contributed significantly to the country’s elections and governance agenda.
Enumerating some of Dr Akwetey’s achievements, Mr Cretz said apart from promoting voter education, building and sustaining credible electoral systems, ensuring peaceful elections and building a climate of peaceful election adjudication,Dr Akwetey played a key role in the country’s elections in 2012.
According to him, Dr Akwetey was able to persuade leaders of the major political parties and other stakeholders to engage in a dialogue during that elections.
“The results were impressive: at the IDEG-organised Kumasi high-Level forum and at an Accra Peace Summit, presidential contestants committed themselves to protecting the peace in the country, condemning political violence and impunity.”
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Dr Akwetey’s commitments
“In addition, Dr Akwetey has committed himself to battling corruption within the government. While meeting with political and media leaders, he has repeatedly called for the strengthening of anti-corruption agencies.
“Looking ahead to the 2016 elections, he has emphasised the essential role that the nation’s leaders play in maintaining the stability of Ghana,” Mr Cretz added.
Quoting Dr Akwetey as saying, “Democracy is a serious business which requires discipline, sacrifices and neutrality,” the US Ambassador said, “Dr Akwetey’s work was commendable and essential,” adding, “I dare say that if he were alive today, Martin Luther King Jr would again be inspired by the work of our honouree.”
In his acceptance speech, Dr Akwetey reiterated the need for multi-party governance in the country.
According to him, the country needed vital reforms before the 2016 elections.
He said there was the need for radical electoral reforms plus a devolution to ensure a further democratisation at the local level including access to resources for elected chief executives to work with.
He also called for the need to open local governance up to multi-party election so as to help broaden the democratisation space in the country.
• Writer's email-rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh