John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has underscored the importance of impartiality and justice in the upcoming December 7 general elections.
During the launch of the National Peace Campaign, Mahama called for strict and fair enforcement of the law against anyone who attempts to incite violence or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.
In his address, he emphasised the critical roles of the Electoral Commission, judiciary, and security forces in ensuring a fair, transparent, and safe electoral process.
He expressed serious concern about the potential for violence during the elections and highlighted the urgent need for all involved institutions to prioritise justice and neutrality.
Mahama insisted that anyone who disrupts the electoral process should be held accountable. He firmly opposed the deployment of military personnel or armed national security operatives to polling stations, arguing that their presence could foster an atmosphere of fear and suspicion among voters.
He urged the government to respect the designated roles of each security institution to prevent unnecessary escalations.
Mahama also highlighted the essential role of the Electoral Commission in building trust among the electorate, calling on the EC to perform its duties impartially, as neutrality is vital for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Additionally, he stressed the importance of an unbiased judiciary in resolving any election disputes that may arise.
Acknowledging that disagreements and challenges are inherent in any democratic process, he emphasised that these issues must be addressed fairly and without partiality.
“Our clergy like all citizens should be able to witness voting and counting peacefully without fear of violence. If someone errs or is disruptive during the election, they should be made to face justice. The government has a responsibility to hold accountable any criminal who masquerades during the elections as state security operatives.
“No weapons must be allowed in or around any polling stations, including at all collation centres. Election security is the primary responsibility of the Ghana Police Service under the Inspector General of Police. There must therefore be no deployment of the military or armed national security operatives at any polling station or collation center. The Electoral Commission must be impartial and the judiciary must be fair and neutral in the events of any election dispute.”
