Speaking at the National Election Early Warning and Response Group (NEEWARG) launch Emmanuel Akwetey, the Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) praised Ghanaians for their non-violence response to election outcomes since 1992, but he expressed doubt that this run would continue.
He said Ghanaian elections will always do run offs, or take the results to court but “we will end up moving on and waiting for the next election and that is what it has been”.
However he feared Ghana might experience post-election violence this year.
Earlier this year former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Samson Oje, said the Ghana Armed Forces were prepared to “do what it takes to keep this country together.”
Akwetey told the launch the warning was a deterrent but more needed to be done.
“The warnings are there, clearly enough but the question is whether what we have done to secure peace in the nearing election, despite all the challenges, will be adequate,” he said at the launch held on Tuesday, July 26 in Accra.
According to him, some pre-election activities such as "the illicit flow of firearms, intemperate political language and ethno-communal conflict" could contribute to electoral violence this year.
He proposed that some early interventions such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and collaborations between the National Peace Council (NPC) and civic society organisation could avert this possible danger.
However, he commended the National Early Warning and Response Group for initiating its programme because he believes the members of the group will use their years of experience to facilitate early response to conflicts and early warning issues before they escalate into violence.
During the launch, the U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, Minister of the Interior, Honorable Prosper D. K Bani and the UNDP Country Director Mr. Dominic Sam expressed commitments to support the group's’ effort to strengthen early response to threats around the elections and reduce the potential for conflict.
The primary objective of NEEWARG is to discuss, develop and recommend strategies to mitigate threats to the peaceful conduct of the 2016 elections.
The Group will convene stakeholders from around the country, including representatives from the National Peace Council and prominent persons from relevant state and non-state institutions to complement government efforts in the prevention and mitigation of election-related violence.
Speaking at the launch event, Ambassador Robert P. Jackson praised Ghana for its strong democratic credentials and the National Peace Council for its efforts over the years to foster peace throughout the region.
“Indeed, Ghana is known as a beacon of peace, stability, and democracy. You deserve to be applauded for consistently holding peaceful elections, despite strong political competition. Many of you here today have played a significant role in ensuring peace in Ghana, but we must not be complacent. Democracy never reaches an age where it can survive on its own. We must nurture it today and every day, lest we wake up tomorrow, and find it gone.”
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