Electoral violence blur on democracy — Catholic Bishops

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has condemned the incidence of electoral violence during elections especially the violence that characterised the rerun of 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency, and the brutalisation of citizens, including journalists. 

It said such acts constitute a gross violation of human dignity and betray the very foundations upon which the country’s democracy stands.

A statement issued in Accra last Tuesday (July 22) and signed by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, therefore, urged the state to initiate prompt, thorough and transparent investigations into those incidents and ensure perpetrators are held fully accountable, stressing that “impunity corrodes public trust and fosters a culture of lawlessness.”

It further called upon the government to implement without delay the recommendations of previous commissions of enquiry into electoral violence, ensuring lessons learned translate into meaningful institutional reforms. 

Social order

It said true democracy transcended the periodic casting of votes but embodied a just social order that respected the rule of law, upheld the intrinsic dignity of every human person, and guaranteed citizens the right to participate meaningfully in shaping the national destiny.

“At the heart of this vision lies the sanctity of the ballot and the imperative of peaceful elections,” it stated.

The statement reminded all political actors that elections were not a contest of might, but a platform for the exchange of ideas.

“It further urged political parties and their supporters to exercise maximum restraint and prioritise national peace above partisan advantage, even amidst intense political competition.”

“The Electoral Commission must sustain and deepen its stakeholder engagement efforts to bolster public confidence in the electoral process's integrity.

Similarly, we urge the security services to act with professionalism, impartiality and foresight in preventing and managing potential conflict,” it said.

Credible judiciary

It said a healthy, functioning democracy equally demanded an independent, credible judiciary, free from political interference.

“Justice is the indispensable cornerstone of national cohesion; without it, grievances fester and violence finds fertile ground.

It is in this critical regard that we view the current tensions arising from the suspension of the Chief Justice.

While acknowledging the necessity of due process, we caution strenuously against any action, perceived or actual, that could compromise the independence or impartiality of the judiciary,” it said. 

The statement said the removal of a sitting Chief Justice was a matter of profound national significance.

“This process must be scrupulously guided by constitutional principles, absolute procedural fairness, and a clear respect for the doctrine of the separation of powers.

Any precedent that appears to place the judiciary at the mercy of the executive risks irreparably eroding public trust in the very institution citizens rely upon for justice,” it stated. 

It, therefore, urged all stakeholders to act with the utmost conscientiousness, safeguarding both the inviolable rule of law and the dignity of the judiciary.