Ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on the 2020 presidential elections in Ghana, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country have called for peace, with both ruling and opposition parties reinforcing their commitment to a successful process.
The National Peace Council (NPC)
Ghana’s National Peace Council on Sunday urged stakeholders involved in the presidential election petition to uphold peace as the Supreme Court is expected to deliver its judgment Thursday.
“The National Peace Council respectfully calls on all the parties in the dispute, the former president, John Dramani Mahama, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as the Electoral Commission to strictly adhere to the ruling of the Supreme Court regardless of who wins or loses in the yet to be delivered judgment,” the peace council said in a statement.
It also urged media, political commentators, and all citizens to be circumspect in their reports and discussions about the issue and to use nonviolent means to address their concerns.
“The peace council respectfully appeals to all the people of Ghana to resort to time-tested nonviolent mechanisms to address any outstanding election-related complaints peacefully, either through the judicial process or by any means available alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” it said.
The Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG)
Similarly, The Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) in collaboration with Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has also called on parties to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court on the election petition case in the interest of national peace.
Major General Nii Carl Coleman (Rtd), Chairman of CFI made the plea saying, “We remind the nation that the logic of going to court is that you accept the verdict of the court; or you may disagree with the verdict, in which case you use legal means to seek redress or you may decide to move on, in the interest of peace.”
Parties Unite
Meanwhile, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed their commitment to preserving the peace of the country regardless of the Supreme Court ruling. The two parties have also promised to urge their supporters to exercise restraint and desist from any provocative acts that could undermine law and order.
The apex court in Ghana is expected to deliver judgment on a petition filed by John Dramani Mahama, NDC’s Flagbearer in the 2020 Presidential election on Thursday. He is praying for the court to order the Electoral Commission to organize a run-off between himself and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
