Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Ghana: Peace Council fears 2016 election violence

The chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, has expressed worry over what he described as “entrenched positions” taken by some political parties on how to hold successful elections.

The National Peace Council is collating views from political parties, civil society organisations and individuals on how to ensure a trouble-free polls next year.

Most Rev. Prof. Asante said the dialogue, which is being held in Koforidua in the Eastern region, was imperative to advise stakeholders on how to hold a peaceful election in 2016.

“We also came close to it [violence in 2008, 2012], are we going to be fortunate in 2016? We need to sit back and learn from what happened in 2012 – the successes and the challenges that confronted us in 2012. We need to talk about that and say to ourselves what we can do to avoid those challenges,” he told the media.

“At the end political parties should be able to say we have learned from each other and know the things we need to avoid and promote to ensure peaceful electioneering campaign and peaceful elections.”

“We want the nation to be first in our thinking,” the religious leader said.

Most Rev. Prof. Asante’s comments come after calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party for the country to have a new voters’ register ahead of the 2016 elections. Leading members of the NPP including the flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have on several occasions stated that the EC has lost its credibility.

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted the current register is credible and should be maintained for the 2016 elections.


Source: Ghana/starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

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