IGP urged to deal with perpetrators of violence
The Akwamuhene of the Awutu Traditional Council, Nana Kwadwo Banafo II, has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, to deal with persons who caused violence in the just-ended Limited Biometric Voters Registration (LBVR) exercise.
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Nana Banafo, who is also the Chief of Awutu Papaase Number 2 in the Central Region, expressed the view that such an action would help prevent major violence in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, he asked the police to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the violence during the exercise.
He explained that penalising persons behind the violent incidents recorded during the exercise would not only deter others but also go a long way to safeguard the nation’s democracy.
"The role of our security agencies, particularly the police, is critical in ensuring peace. The Judiciary also has a pivotal role to play,’’ he said.
He also noted that the EC, the National Commission for Civic Education and other key state institutions in the electoral process had major roles to play in ensuring a peaceful election.
Exercise
The LBVR exercise was organised by the EC with the aim of registering potential voters who had turned 18 years since the last election and others who are above 18 years but could not register in the last exercise.
The exercise, which commenced on April 28 and ended on May 8, 2016, witnessed pockets of confrontation leading to violence, mostly between the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
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In the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Northern regions, there were skirmishes which were captured by the media.
In a statement after the exercise, the (EC) blamed the failure of political parties to comply with the rules guiding the LBVR exercise as the cause of the pockets of violence which characterised the exercise.
The EC mentioned the rule of engagement and how to address grievances as contained in Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 91 but which the political parties failed to comply with.
Advice
To the youth, Nana Banafo warned them not to allow themselves to be used by political parties to foment violence in the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
He advised them to eschew actions that would hamper the peace and stability of the nation.
Additionally, he urged political parties to avoid intra-party violence which could heighten tension in the country and also dent Ghana’s democratic credentials.
He said the development of the country was not the sole responsibility of any single political party but the collective efforts of all Ghanaians.
"We owe it to ourselves and to posterity not only to prove the sceptics and cynics wrong but also demonstrate convincingly to the rest of the world that we in Ghana do walk the good governance and rule of law talk."
The chief therefore urged Ghanaians to work proactively towards free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful elections this year.
Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh