The Afetor Nyornufia of Ho-Bankoe, Mama Bobi III has asserted that it would take collective efforts from all stakeholders and citizenry to maintain the country’s peace before, during, and after the upcoming general elections.

According to her, the Electoral Commission, political parties, and citizenry have respective roles to play in ensuring Ghana experiences a peaceful election and the will of the people are respected.

She said this at the 2024 Election Peace Concert organized by the St Anne’s Youth Choir in Ho in the Volta Region.

“It is key that this election period, we all play our role. To achieve this, political regimes must play their primary role by educating their groups to promote a culture of peace, dialogue, and consensus.
 
“Of course, the Electoral Commission, the judiciary, and other bodies must be supported to achieve their mission and be neutral in discharging their task – from the civil society to religious leaders, and from traditional chiefs to opinion leaders” " she said
 
Mama Bobi underscored the Electoral Commission’s role in ensuring the upcoming polls are free, fair, and transparent, producing a result that would be accepted by all parties, and the citizenry.

“I would be quick to add that we have to define the electoral process, particularly through building public trust and confidence of citizens, actors, and voters through the encouragement of an approach that fosters joint responsibility for the process, acceleration of a level playing field for contestants and all parties, transparency in all aspects of the process and assurance of a dispute resolution process that is fair, efficient, and clear”, she noted.

She identified that the growing acceptance of vigilantism as a political culture could lead to political violence, as these unlawful armed groups have increased from 27 to 72.

 “Statistically these groups per research and some security experts the number of vigilantes in Ghana has increased from 27 to 72. Security-wise, we all agree that many private security entities often engage in a variety of unlawful acts. More of their acts are anti-electoral process.”
 
“Associated with power and fear, they tend to polarise politics, restrict freedom to assembly, suppress voting, etc., especially when politically vigilantism has become the socially accepted phrase for any form of political violence in Ghana”, she said.

She urged political parties to desist from engaging in politics of personal attacks and rather compose their campaign on issues focusing on the well-being of Ghanaians and development of the country.

Mama Bobi said “as a Judge and, of course, a Queen Mother, I want to remind the political parties and you to think of ways to make the ordinary person in Ghana and in Ho better – they need the basic existential food, shelter, education, hospitals, etc.

“We are suffocated as a people. No growth. No space to think and grow. Start thinking of us as human beings, not a vote. We should be your goals not the means to your goals.”

She also called on the youth not to allow themselves to be used as conduits to mar the election and the peace of the country for parochial interests.

“We can’t afford to replace our regular trained security personnel with vigilantes. Allowing yourself to be used to go kill and cause mayhem because you have been recruited to a vigilante group, is to allow yourself to be used for criminal activities. Today is someone’s family member you helped to kill. Guess what, tomorrow it will be you”, she emphasized.

Mama Bobi entreated her fellow traditional authorities to remain neutral in the political discourse “but truthful in our assessment as we are the last stop to bridge the gap.”

She urged the media to remain circumspect and exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their duties as the country draws near to the polls.

“You are the guardians of truth for the people of Ghana, do not allow yourself to be manipulated by any other interests. Your words can cause a civil war. As you speak, others do. Words and actions are the two sides of the same coin”, she said.