Disgrace! We have too much blood on our hands - Rev. Opuni Frimpong on electoral violence

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, Executive Director of the Alliance for Christian Advocacy, has lamented the alarming rise in election-related violence being experienced in the country.

According to him, the country has too much blood on its hands, and the situation could escalate if key stakeholders do not address these issues ahead of the elections.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Rev. Opuni Frimpong said it is a disgrace for the country, which boasts of being peaceful and known for its democratic nature, to be experiencing violence during elections that lead to the loss of lives.

“Eight people died in the previous elections... It's like there’s increased violence resulting in casualties in every election. Our hands are so bloody; there’s too much blood on our hands.”

He referred to the shooting incident during the Agona West rally and a health walk by party supporters of the NDC and NPP at Mamobi, which resulted in a violent clash, with people getting injured from gunshots, describing these events as well as the renewed Bawku conflicts as recipes for a major disaster if action is not taken.

“Just recently, someone fired gunshots during the Agona West rally between two parties. Another one was the Mamobi walk where people were shot. Why would someone carry a gun to a walk? If we don’t address these issues, there will be worse cases after the elections; that is why we are calling for political players to sign the peace pact.

“With the Bawku conflicts, we have to be extra careful. Some people think that elections are only described as peaceful when it doesn’t end in a civil war. Even if one person dies, it becomes a blot on the country’s image, and it’s a disgrace for the country. Why must people die just to elect a leader to rule the country as a president or a parliamentarian...,” he said.

Rev. Opuni Frimpong, explaining why political parties are being requested to sign a peace pact ahead of the polls, said that it is essential to ensure that violence does not erupt if the outcome of the elections does not go in their favor and to prevent their supporters from engaging in acts of violence.

He added that the pact will also require the political parties to pledge to resort to lawful and legal means should they have any grievances about the election outcome.

“Why we are calling on them to sign the peace pact is to avoid a situation where supporters of a party will hit the streets to cause mayhem and will rather use legal means to address their grievances, and that is the essence of it,” he explained.

MAG/OGB

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