Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union (AU) High Representative for Silencing the Guns and Chairman of the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan, has appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to be neutral in the conduct of the December 7 general election.

He urged the electoral management body to ensure that the December 7 general election was free, fair and credible.

“I need not say that right now, all the spotlight is on the EC. They will be in the lead,” Dr Chambas stated in his remarks at the fifth National Peace Council Stakeholders’ Dialogue in Accra.

The event, on the theme: “Building Trust among Stakeholders for a Peaceful 2024 General Elections in Ghana,” was organised by the Peace Council in collaboration with the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS).

It was based on stakeholders’ shared responsibility to ensure that the upcoming election manifests their commitment to democracy, peace, and national unity rather than another political exercise.

The NPC has already organised similar events in Tamale, Kumasi, Ho and Cape Coast.

These dialogues are meant to strengthen the ongoing collaboration between political actors and institutions represented here to enhance the peace and stability of the country.

Dr Chambas noted that everybody else would play a supporting role, but the focus would be on the EC.

He reiterated the need for the EC to continue to perform in an open, transparent and very credible manner; saying, “they will show all sides that they will be neutral referees, as they are supposed to be.”

Dr Chambas said the EC always refers to the high scores from the last election.

He, however, cautioned that past performance was no guarantee for the future.

He said the task was ahead and that the EC must endeavour to ensure that at the end of the day, there would be no cause for dispute regarding the results, of the choice of the Ghanaian people who were accepted.

He appealed to the police and the other security agencies to ensure there was peace and order before, during and after the December 7 polls.

Touching on the judiciary, Dr Chambas said Ghanaians want justice to be done and speedy; stating that, “because as you know, justice delayed, is justice denied. We want speedy adjudication in a manner that will be seen to be impartial and following the rule of law.”

Dr Chambas said the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance 2024 report, which took a 10-year perspective to see what had been the trend in democratic governance across the globe and that he was pleased to have seen in the three countries of the subregion, Cape Verde, ranking fourth, Ghana, ranking seventh, and Senegal, ranking ninth.

He said in other words, Ghana was among the top 10 performing countries.

He said Ghana being among the top 10 in Africa was a significant achievement, but it doesn’t mean that all was perfect; declaring, “It doesn’t mean that the task is achieved. It only means we should all remain vigilant.

“We should all remain aware that we still have work to do to keep our country where we want it to be.”

He said Ghana’s democratic process was always tested, especially in the election days.

To the participants at the meeting, Dr Chambas said: “So now, let us remind ourselves of the love of peace that brought us here. Today, let us focus on how we should work, all of us together, to share this responsibility.”

He added: “Let us all put our hands together and ensure that once again after all is said and done, the winner will be Ghana.”

Reverend Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), urged all political parties, institutions, and citizens to use non-violent means to resolve conflicts.