The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has called for a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process in the December 7 general elections.

At the second-half National Executive Council meeting in Accra, the Union highlighted the critical role of various stakeholders in safeguarding the democratic integrity of the country during the upcoming elections.

Speaking during the meeting, the General Secretary of the Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, said although Ghana's electoral system has undergone massive reforms and keeps improving at every election, the same cannot be said of the human factor, particularly the conduct of the actors in the electoral process.

"It is against this background that Ghana Mineworkers’ Union joins many other well-meaning Ghanaians and organizations in calling for free, fair, transparent, and violent-free elections in the 2024 electioneering process," he said.

Mr Gbana underscored the need for professionalism and impartiality from the Electoral Commission (EC), the institution tasked with overseeing the process.

He urged the EC to avoid actions or pronouncements that could undermine the credibility of the elections and to ensure internal dispute resolution mechanisms are readily accessible to all.

"It is extremely important that the EC makes internal dispute management platforms readily accessible to all the actors and citizenry by providing a complaint desk at every polling station as well as channels for providing timely feedback.

."..We also want to urge the EC to double its monitoring efforts on all media platforms but more importantly social media platforms during this election in order to timely and effectively deal with any misinformation or disinformation particularly linked to its work," he said.  

The Union also called on political parties, particularly the two dominant ones—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—to prioritise national peace over partisan interests.

The General Secretary urged party leaders to refrain from hate speech, disinformation, and any actions that could incite violence, while also advocating for adherence to legal processes in resolving electoral disputes.

Turning attention to the security services, the Union reminded personnel of their duty to uphold the Constitution and protect all citizens, emphasising the need for professionalism.

"You are expected to be an agent of peace and an enabler of democracy and not to intimidate, bully and scare innocent citizens away from exercising their franchise.

"Ghanaians therefore expect you to be professional as always, for this is the surest way to guarantee a free, fair and transparent election," the Secretary-General remarked.

The Union also appealed to the media, urging responsible reporting and fact-checking during this critical period.

Sensationalism and misinformation, the Secretary-General warned, could exacerbate tensions and lead to unnecessary chaos.

He encouraged journalists to hold political actors accountable and prioritise national interest in their coverage.