The National Peace Council has pledged to continue direct engagement with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to address the party's concerns ahead of the upcoming elections.

This follows the declaration by the NDC National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, that the party will not be signing any peace declaration in the lead-up to the elections.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, August 14, Asiedu Nketia expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of peace pacts, citing the lack of tangible outcomes from similar agreements in the past.

“Signing a peace declaration doesn’t mean anything to the party, as previous pacts have not yielded any real results,” Asiedu Nketia stated.

In response, Reverend Ernest Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Peace Council, emphasised that the NDC’s decision not to sign a peace declaration does not necessarily signal a risk of violence.

“In the first place, I wouldn't say that their refusal to sign the peace pact is a cause for violence. I believe these are just initial concerns, and as a Council focused on negotiation and mediation, we take them seriously. Our doors remain open for dialogue to understand and address the legitimate concerns raised by the NDC.”

He further explained that the Peace Council has established a platform for ongoing discussions with the NDC to explore the best path forward. “If the NDC has concerns, we are ready to listen. We have already arranged a meeting to hear their perspectives and work towards resolving these issues,” he added.

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