The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on political leaders and citizens to allow the legal system to address any disputes arising from the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

This will promote peace and stability both during and after the election process and strengthen the country’s democracy, the Council said.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency during a consultative dialogue in the Odododiodioo Constituency, the Right Reverend Samuel Kofi Osabutey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPC, called for non-violent solutions to any election-related conflicts.

“We are saying that after the decision, after the announcement of the results, we are pleading that if there are any petitions, this can be done in a non-violent way.

“I am talking about the citizens. It can be done in a non-violent way. If there is an infraction, it does not mean go and beat up somebody.

“Petition papers are there at every police station. We hope they will be there, and you just write your petition and allow the process of law to go on,” he urged.

The dialogue, organized by the NPC in partnership with the Ashiedu Keteke Sub Metro National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together representatives from various political parties, including the New Patriotic Party, the Convention People’s Party, and the Progressive People’s Party, as well as religious leaders and traditional authorities.

The event aimed to promote a culture of peace throughout the election process.

During the dialogue, three political parties contesting the Odododiodioo Constituency seat signed a peace pact, committing to maintaining peace in the area before, during, and after the elections.

Mr. Alfred Anertey Abbey, Parliamentary Candidate for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Mr. Richard Dzatei Abbey, Parliamentary Candidate for the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Mr. Henry Odartey Lamptey, NPP Constituency Treasurer for Odododiodioo, all signed the peace pact on behalf of their respective parties.

The Right Reverend Samuel Kofi Osabutey urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a transparent election process by deploying dedicated personnel to all voting centers to facilitate a smooth and credible election.

“Those who are also managing the electoral process, like Electoral Commission, we are also advising them, please remember that the tensions are high. The people have invested financially in this election, so they want transparency right from the beginning.

“People’s emotions are already high. So sometimes you see that when papers don’t arrive early, when they are not opened early, little, little things begin to make people feel that, hey, something is being hidden. So the electoral process itself, the Electoral Commission must make sure that it has personnel who are committed,” he advised.

The Right Rev Osabutey also advised the media to guide against misinformation and ensure accurate reportage to safeguard the electoral process.

He said the media had a critical role to play in maintaining the peace of the country by ensuring that they reported accurately on the process.

“You see, not everybody is everywhere. It is sometimes the information they (media) churn out.

“For instance, the one that I cited, that incites people. And we know that the Rwanda issue that happened, it was a radio issue because the people were not around. Somebody decided to make a certain noise and then people felt agitated.

“So, those of us who have the opportunity to speak in the media space, let us make sure that we are reporting accurately,” he emphasised

Dr. Osei Bonsu Dickson, a facilitator with the Peace Council, urged Ghanaians to become ambassadors of peace, emphasizing that “peace is a collective responsibility.”

He highlighted key factors contributing to election-related tensions in the Odododiodioo Constituency, including political polarization, the high stakes of elections, the winner-takes-all system, and high youth unemployment.

To address these tensions, Dr. Dickson called for youth empowerment to provide employment opportunities, promote peaceful dialogue, and ensure a transparent electoral process.