The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has warned against the possible infiltration of terrorists into Ghana if the country fails to prevent escalating conflicts in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections.
According to the Minister, the country has been put on high alert to curb acts of conflict, which he says could be exploited by terrorists to infiltrate the country, create chaos, and seize control of the country’s natural resources.
Speaking at the launch of the National Peace Crusade Tour in Koforidua, Stephen Asamoah Boateng indicated that the threats associated with terrorism have compelled the government to raise a nationwide terror alert in response to attacks by extremist elements in neighbouring countries.
He also urged state institutions, especially the Electoral Commission, to be transparent, fair, and impartial by involving stakeholders in key decisions.
He emphasized that the EC needs to ensure a level playing field where political parties will accept the election outcome, crucial for safeguarding the country’s peace.
“Indeed, from my perspective, it appears that if we are not cautious, we are heading into very challenging times ahead. However, this election presents a unique opportunity for us to demonstrate our credentials as a peaceful and truly democratic nation, especially in areas fraught with conflict. There have already been reports in the media indicating alarming rhetoric from some individuals in the two main political parties, which is concerning to all of us.”
“From the opposition, we hear statements like ‘if we lose the election, it means they have rigged it’. We hear declarations such as ‘we are coming in 2025 and we will take certain actions, arrest this person, prosecute that one, and the government is not ready to hand over’. There are reports of certain groups starting to incite violence.”
“We are also aware of instances where people are being trained, under the guise of protecting the ballot, and other provocative statements suggesting one side has already won the election before voting begins. From the ruling party, statements like ‘we will not concede, we aim to extend our rule’ may seem harmless, but without caution, could lead to chaos.”
The Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amo, who disclosed several interventions including the establishment of a team to address election-related disputes on polling day, stated that broader consultations will ensure political parties and their presidential candidates commit to a peace pact ahead of the elections.
“That if a candidate loses, the understanding we have as a nation is to support the winner. The Peace Council has outlined a series of activities aimed at promoting the peace we all desire. Firstly, we have established a political party trust-building platform, meeting quarterly.”
“In fact, it was during one of these forums that the NDC decided to return to IPAC. This Wednesday, we will host the next forum and launch a team to monitor election-related conduct. We have already launched a team to monitor media activities in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa.”
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