Ensuring transparent, peaceful elections: ECOWAS entreats political parties, stakeholders to uphold electoral laws

The ECOWAS Commission has entreated all political actors and stakeholders in Ghana to adhere to the country's constitution and electoral laws to ensure transparent and peaceful elections in December this year.

The commission expressed concerns about the growing misinformation and disinformation ahead of the general election.

It, therefore, called for continuous dialogue among political actors and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful electoral outcome on December 7.

This was contained in an address read on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, by the Head of Democracy and Good Governance of the commission, Ebenezer Asiedu, at a three-day training workshop in Accra yesterday.

It is being organised by the ECOWAS Commission in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC), and had representatives of the various political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the country's electoral system as participants.

It provides a platform for a multi-stakeholders interaction on issues relating to the electoral process and strategies that would help mitigate potential electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

The workshop is a follow-up action of ECOWAS, after its pre-election fact-finding mission to Ghana on July 21 to 28, 2024, to assess the level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections by the Electoral Commission (EC) and all other stakeholders.

Significance

Ambassador Musah emphasised the importance of peaceful elections in member states, particularly at a time when democracy in the region was facing challenges.

"Ghana has enjoyed peaceful and credible elections in the past, but incidents of violence before, during and after elections have seemingly increased with each subsequent election.

"As we approach the general election, the political landscape is getting more tenuous, and trust deficits continue to characterise relationships between stakeholders of the electoral chain, as well as citizens," he said.

Ambassador Musah reiterated the commitment of the commission to support the country’s efforts in consolidating its democratic gains through the holding of inclusive, peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

He said the workshop was also aimed at building consensus among stakeholders, promoting issue-based campaigns and enhancing the capacity of key political actors and stakeholders.

Commitment

The Executive Secretary of NPC, George Amoh, said the meeting was also intended to strengthen mechanisms on dialogue and mediation which were vital for addressing the complex challenges the sub-region was faced with.

He added that it was also to fortify the collective commitment to peace and stability in the country.

“The integrity of our democracy and the stability of our nation depend on our ability to engage in constructive dialogue, manage differences and uphold the principles of fairness and respect.

“Let us work together to ensure that the elections are conducted in an environment of peace and respect, reflecting the democratic values we all cherish,” Mr Amoh said.

EC assurance

The Deputy Director, Legal, of the EC, Florence Mensah, gave an assurance that the commission would conduct free, fair, credible and violence-free elections.