Election 2020: Be guided by conscience – Peace Council tells EC

The Electoral Commission has been called upon to employ three key principles in conducting this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections to ensure that Ghana comes out of the exercise, once again, peaceful and stable.

Speaking at the launch of Media General’s Election Command Centre on Tuesday, a council member of the National Peace Council, Rev Dr Nii Amoo Darko brought to the fore how countries have been destroyed due to the actions of political actors and other stakeholders.

He therefore implored Ghana’s electoral body to be guided by conscience, love of God and love of country as the country goes to the polls in December.

“Peace is too expensive a commodity to gamble with,” he warned.

Rev Dr Nii Amoo Darko pointed out that peace and stability is only possible if the citizenry have a say in the way they are governed.

“Elections must always, therefore, be the true reflection of the say of the people, which is the citizenry, in a free, transparent, and fair manner,” he stressed.

“It is therefore incumbent on the Electoral Commission to be guided by conscience, the love of God and love of country and exercise their constitutional mandate in a manner will result in the country continuing to remain peaceful and stabilize before, during and post-election.”

Restraint

Rev. Amo Darko also urged political parties to maintain high sense of circumspection and restraint as they mount political platforms.

“We humbly urge eminent leaders of the various political parties to take leadership and hold their followers in check to ensure that they do not engage in such provocative acts.”

The media, he said, should report on the elections in a way that promotes peace, reminding them of the “crucial role” they have to play before, during and after the elections.

He also encouraged security agencies to “act swiftly professionally” in dealing with any infraction of the law.

The Election Command Centre, meant to provide impartial and extensive coverage of the 2020 elections, was launched by the Group Chief Executive Office of Media General, Mrs. Beatrice Agyemang.

It was attended by politicians, religious leaders, civil society groups and persons from different walks of life as well as management of Media General.