2016 Elections must not be marred by violence – Economist

Mr Kwabena Essel Donkor, an Economist, has called on Ghanaians to shun all forms of violence as the country seeks to deepen the democratic dispensation. Mr Donkor expressed worry over the “culture of violence”, which has crept into Ghana’s body politic, saying the situation could also mar the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Democracy, he said, thrives on the principles of tolerance, maturity, peaceful co-existence, transparency and ideologies and it is appropriate for people to work assiduously to uphold these virtues for sustainable development.

Mr Donkor, who was addressing a day’s symposium at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, dubbed: “Our Democracy – 22 Years Appraisal, Facts and Evidence”, urged Ghanaians to strive to protect the gains made under the Fourth Republican Constitution.

He said democracy has no substitute and called on political parties and their supporters to avoid utterances, acts and practices that could derail the nation’s focus.

Network Frontier Movement for Democracy, a political think tank and research organisation, organised the symposium to take stock of Ghana’s democracy under the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Donkor said next year’s elections mark a crucial moment in the annals of Ghana’s democracy, saying “we cannot afford to hold another polls characterised by tension”.

On the appointment of government appointees to the decentralised assemblies, the Economist said “Government must not appoint people based on party affiliation or how well they are connected to the Presidency. Such appointments must always be based on competency and merit”.

He urged Ministers of State to demonstrate patriotism in the discharge of their duties and appealed for all to be law-abiding to help build a prosperous nation.