Former President John Mahama has urged an end to the “militarization of our elections,” condemning the deployment of armed military and security operatives to polling stations and collation centers, which he described as a dangerous practice threatening the peace of the electoral process.
Speaking at the 2024 Peace Campaign, organized by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council alongside the Christian Council and the Office of the National Chief Imam at the State House in Accra, Mahama pledged his commitment to peace ahead of the December elections. He stressed the need for a fair and non-violent election process and announced that his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), would propose an expansion of the Peace Pact signatories to include more key stakeholders.
“We hope this will make the pact a binding commitment to peace, not just a ceremonial piece of paper,” he said, underscoring that all institutions involved in the election process should be held accountable for upholding peace.
Mahama also called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to remain impartial and urged the judiciary to ensure fairness in any potential election disputes, stating that justice was essential for peace. “Many conflicts worldwide began when people ignored injustices until the oppressed felt forced to respond. While I am and will remain a man of peace, I urge everyone to stay vigilant and to stand for justice,” he added.
Reaffirming his commitment, Mahama declared, “I, John Dramani Mahama, stand here today before you and Almighty God to pledge, on behalf of myself and the NDC, our commitment to peace before, during, and after the elections on December 7, 2024.”
Meanwhile, Samuel Tettey, the EC’s Deputy Chairperson for Operations, reassured the public of the EC’s transparent and inclusive approach to the upcoming election process. He urged political leaders to act responsibly and avoid statements that could undermine peace and trust in the electoral system.
