Democratic governance will ensure development - IEA Fellow

Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra (retd), a Visiting Senior Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), has affirmed that consolidation of democratic governance is the most efficient means of ensuring peace, security and development.

He said although the tradition of acceding power democratically was increasingly taking roots, a matter of great concern in recent times was the extreme political polarisation of the country.

Brig Gen Agyemfra made the remark at a round table discussion organised by the IEA in Accra on the theme: “Post-electoral disputes resolution: Fostering peace, national cohesion and reconciliation after the Supreme Court ruling”.

He said the presidential election petition had generated animosity and acrimony between the leaders and supporters of the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party — where the petitioners belong and the National Democratic Congress — the respondent.

He said discussions on the issues had banner headlines, but fortunately, both parties had indicated their willingness to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court.

He said the IEA was of the view that timely discussion and action on this sensitive issue would go a long way to promote peace and national cohesion in the country.

Brig Gen Agyemfra said Ghana had so far demonstrated a high level of political maturity, as compared to other African countries, and had successfully passed the test of holding six elections that had been adjudged free, fair, credible and peaceful, but warned that these gains needed to be guarded very carefully.

The round table discussion was attended by leading political leaders, academia, journalists, legal practitioners, and a cross-section of the public.

- GNA