Ghana not in politically volatile situation-Rev. Asante

Though there had been unpleasant incidents in Ghana recently, the situation now is well within limits, and cannot be described as volatile.

Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, head of the National Enforcement Body on the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct (NEBPPCC), who gave the assurance, said: “We may have come close to volatile but we are definitely not yet there.”

Rev. Prof. Asante said these in Accra on Friday at a meeting between NEBPPCC and some political parties in the country, as part of efforts to ensure peace and order during Election 2012.

“In countries where things have gotten out of hand, you do not get political parties coming together for the sake of the nation. We have easily achieved that here,” he said.

Rev. Prof. Asante, who is also the chairman of the National Peace Council, called on stakeholders in the political process to initiate measures to ensure peace building in the country.

Concerning the meeting, he said the political parties, including the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had appreciated the need to ensure the security of the country.

“We have had frank discussions and reached a consensus that we should all do what we can, to ensure peace,” Rev. Prof. Asante said.

The clergyman said the media played a pivotal role in ensuring national peace, and added that “We would encourage both the print and electronic media to facilitate discussions that promote peace and unity in the county”.

The 13 member body has the mandate to reprimand any political party that would engage in electioneering, which can endanger the peace and stability of the country.**