Bernice Bessey
During every election year, people become scared due to the pressure and tension mounted by political parties and social commentators.
Citizens resort to finding ways and means to keep their families safe from electoral violence. This is because Ghana’s neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso, Liberia and La Côte d’Ivoire have had their fair share of electoral violence, where people died or others also disappeared, and properties ruined.
To avert a similar thing from happening in Ghana, some individuals have come together to advocate for peaceful elections, dubbed ‘I pledge for peace campaign’. The campaign, which is powered by Security Warehouse, hopes to collect one million signatures to support the electoral process in the country.
As part of the campaign strategies, the group would educate people in churches, mosques, school, markets and other public events. Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle last week, Samuel Elawauyo, Project Director for the campaign, said peace must be maintained in the country for sustainable growth and development.
He said, the surrounding countries had already tested violence after elections, and which should be avoided. The guest person for the programme, Dr. Doreen Fianko, former Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company, urged Ghanaians to exercise tolerance, patience love and understanding as the nation prepares to organise another general election, come November 7, this year.
She was of the view that elections were not only about the person who wins, but the party that accepts defeat and goes away gently, saying, “The party which goes gently would be the hero.” “There have been 15 major wars in Africa, and we can’t afford to take chances in the coming elections,” she cautioned.
“Peace builds the future and destiny of a nation. It leaves a certain future for the youth; an election is not a do or die affair, and it is not about character assassination, but integrity.”
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