Pro-democracy group,Respect My Vote Movement has called on the leadership of the National Peace Council to resign for failing to facilitate the implementation of agreements and resolutions reached between parties in the just-ended 2020 polls.
According to them, the Board of thirteen eminent persons, in the previous elections made use of tactful diplomacy to engage leaders of political parties and the Electoral Commission to resolve post election impasse to avoid exacerbating tension in the country yet has refused to institute that and are entreating the aggrieved parties to go to court this time round.
A statement issued on December 29, 2020 by the Respect my Vote Movement and copied to the Awake News said, “At present, the disputes surrounding parliamentary election results in Techiman South, Sefwi Wiawso and Zabzugu are matters that the Electoral Commission can resolve with the intervention of the National Peace Council”.
The simplest way to resolve this is for the EC to arrange a rerun of that polling station and resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the EC is making no effort to address this problem. This is not a matter that should be taken to court”, they stated.
It follows the peace council’s remarks that the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) seeks redress in the court if it feels cheated out of governance in the December 7 election.
The pressure group opined that the Electoral Commission has brought shame to the country by changing results after declaring it, which they believe can trigger civil unrest.
“In the case of the Presidential Election results, the Electoral Commission has brought the name of Ghana into disrepute by announcing results and thereafter changing the results several times. This singular act was a potential trigger of conflict as it has happened in other countries.
They, “If the leadership of the National Peace Council is not up the task they can resign honourably for more competent persons to take over, the Respect my Vote Movement said.
Read the full statement below:
Resign for your failure to resolve post election disputes – Respect My Vote Movement to National Peace Council
Accra, 29th December,2020- Pro-democracy group Respect My Vote Movement has accused the National Peace Council for failing to intervene to resolve post election impasse.
In previous elections, the National Peace Council made use of tactful diplomacy to engage leaders of political parties and the Electoral Commission to resolve post election impasse to avoid exacerbating tension in the country.
In the case of the Presidential Election results, the Electoral Commission has brought the name of Ghana into disrepute by announcing results and thereafter changing the results several times. This singular act was a potential trigger of conflict as it has happened in other countries. Sadly, the Peace Council finds nothing wrong with such embarrassment and has therefore remained silent on same.
At present, the disputes surrounding parliamentary election results in Techiman South, Sefwi Wiawso and Zabzugu are matters that the Electoral Commission can resolve with the intervention of the National Peace Council. For instance in Sefwi Wiawso only the results of one polling station is outstanding. The simplest way to resolve this is for the EC to arrange a rerun of that polling station and resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the EC is making no effort to address this problem. This is not a matter that should be taken to court. A similar incident happened in the Zabzugu constituency that can be addressed without recourse to the court.
In Techiman South, all the EC has to do is to order a recollation of results. Again, unfortunately that has not been done.
The court cannot be the only way to resolve election disputes and there is abundant precedent to that so why will the National Peace Council fail so miserably that they’re asking parties to go to court to resolve issues that can be resolved through the application of common sense.
If the leadership of the National Peace Council is not up the task they can resign honourably for more competent persons to take over.
Akalilu Samed 024 317 3375
Stephen Kwabena Attuh 024 371 8353
Ama Owusuah Boateng 024 579 8712