Source: ww.thenewindependentonline.com
The leadership of Ghana’s National Peace Council has been called upon to step down for they have failed Ghanaians for not ensuring political parties adhering to agreements and resolutions they agreed on prior to the December 7th Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The call by a Pro-democracy group, Respect My Vote Movement is as a result of numerous demostrations by the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) refusing to accept the final declaration made by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa on the 9th of December,2020.
They claim the just-ended Presidential and Parliamentary elections was rigged for the incumbent party in government, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ghana’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa
Respect My Vote Movement acknowledged that, the Board of thirteen eminent persons, hence Peace Council over years have used prudency to tackle electoral disputes and its related issues.
Also uses statemanship to engage leaders of political parties and the Electoral Commission to resolve post election impasse to avoid exacerbating tension in the country.
However, the current members of Ghana’s National Peace Council according to the Respect my Vote Movement has not put in use the above mechanism but rather urging the aggrieved parties to go to court to resolve these post elections disputes.
This was contained in a Press Statement issued on the 29th December, 2020 by the Respect my Vote Movement and copied to the www.thenewindependentonline.com.
The Statement further explained that, “At present, the disputes surrounding parliamentary election results in Techiman South, Sefwi Wiawso and Zabzugu are matters that the Electoral Commission can resolve with the intervention of the National Peace Council”.
Indicating and suggesting that, the simplest way to resolve this is for Ghana’s EC to arrange a rerun of that polling station and resolve the issue.
But was saddend that, the mandated body, the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is not willing to address the above mentioned challenges.
To them, this is not an issue that needs be taken to court but rather dealt with amicably through engagement of affected persons and political parties.
The Pressure group believes the posture of the Electoral Commission of Ghana is as a result of the remarks made by Peace council, that is the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) shoukd seek redress in the court if it feels cheated out of governance in the just ended general election.
You have failed, Resign- RVM to Peace Council
The actions and posture of Ghana’s Electoral Commission the pressure group opined has brought shame to the country by changing results after declaring it, which they believe can trigger civil unrest.
“In the case of the Presidential Election results, the Electoral Commission has brought the name of Ghana into disrepute by announcing results and thereafter changing the results several times. This singular act was a potential trigger of conflict as it has happened in other countries”, it bemoaned.
To that effect, Respect my Vote Movenent believes the leadership of the National Peace Council is not up the task, hence should be bold to resign honourably for more competent persons to take over,
Below is the full statement of Respect my Vote:
Resign for your failure to resolve post election disputes – Respect My Vote Movement to National Peace Council
Accra, 29th December,2020- Pro-democracy group Respect My Vote Movement has accused the National Peace Council for failing to intervene to resolve post election impasse.
In previous elections, the National Peace Council made use of tactful diplomacy to engage leaders of political parties and the Electoral Commission to resolve post election impasse to avoid exacerbating tension in the country.
In the case of the Presidential Election results, the Electoral Commission has brought the name of Ghana into disrepute by announcing results and thereafter changing the results several times. This singular act was a potential trigger of conflict as it has happened in other countries. Sadly, the Peace Council finds nothing wrong with such embarrassment and has therefore remained silent on same.
At present, the disputes surrounding parliamentary election results in Techiman South, Sefwi Wiawso and Zabzugu are matters that the Electoral Commission can resolve with the intervention of the National Peace Council. For instance in Sefwi Wiawso only the results of one polling station is outstanding.
The simplest way to resolve this is for the EC to arrange a rerun of that polling station and resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the EC is making no effort to address this problem.
This is not a matter that should be taken to court. A similar incident happened in the Zabzugu constituency that can be addressed without recourse to the court.
In Techiman South, all the EC has to do is to order a recollation of results. Again, unfortunately that has not been done.
The court cannot be the only way to resolve election disputes and there is abundant precedent to that so why will the National Peace Council fail so miserably that they’re asking parties to go to court to resolve issues that can be resolved through the application of common sense.
If the leadership of the National Peace Council is not up the task they can resign honourably for more competent persons to take over.
Akalilu Samed 024 317 3375
Stephen Kwabena Attuh 024 371 8353
Ama Owusuah Boateng 024 579 8712
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
