The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, and former president of ECOWAS, Dr Ibn Chambas has highlighted that one of the main causes of violence on the continent is the mismanagement of elections.

According to Dr Chambas, while there are both remote and immediate causes of violence, poorly conducted elections have often acted as a key trigger. "What we have witnessed on the continent is that election disputes can escalate into violence, and if not managed properly, this can spiral completely out of control," he said.

He pointed to the Liberian civil war as a stark example of the consequences of mismanaged elections. "The root cause of Liberia's civil war was the poorly conducted 1980 election, followed by the 1985 and 1987 elections. These were badly conducted, and many Liberians did not believe in or accept the results," Dr Chambas explained. "This widespread distrust in the electoral process contributed to the civil war."

Dr Chambas also emphasized the importance of countries like Ghana in providing a model for successful and peaceful elections. "Ghana has presented a positive example with its nine successful, violence-free elections," he noted. "This is a significant achievement, and it is vital for the region and for West Africa as a whole."

In conclusion, Dr Chambas underlined the high expectations for Ghana to continue leading by example. "It is crucial for Ghana to keep up this record," he said, "as it sets a standard for the entire continent."

By ensuring that elections are free and fair, Dr Chambas believes Africa can silence the guns and avoid the violent conflicts that have marred the continent's past.