Former President John Dramani Mahama says he will not dispute apprehensions among some clergy regarding the 2024 election, especially in the light of past deadly incidents during elections under the Akufo-Addo government.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the clergy in Koforidua at part of his two-day tour of Eastern Region where some raised red flags based on alleged revelations, Mahama stated, “I won’t dispute what he is saying because we have seen it before.”
On the fifth anniversary of the Ayawaso West Wuogon violence, Mahama recalled the masked armed men storming the area, resulting in injuries and the killing of eight during the 2020 election.
“As I speak with you today is the fifth anniversary of Ayawaso West Wuogon. You remember the violence that were unleashed by masked armed men who storm the area shooting indiscriminately. Some have been maimed and crippled”
He added “In 2020, eight Ghanaians were killed yet no investigation and their families not compensated nothing. So what he is saying is a reality I won’t dispute it it is possible it can happen because elections are very immotive events. That is why when we are raising alarm we expect the clergy and faith based organizations to add their voice”.Mahama said.
He called on the need for the clergy and faith-based organizations to add their voices when raising alarms over misconduct of the Electoral Commission and potential election-related violence.
Mahama cited the Electoral Commission’s actions, particularly the timing of attempt to make major changes just nine months before the upcoming election.
Mahama criticized the Electoral Commission proposal to shift the election date and make changes through a new Constitutional Instrument (CI).
He questioned why such significant alterations were being introduced at this late stage, stating, “You don’t spring surprises on people like that.”
“The following year after every election stakeholders sit to assess the shortfalls and what can we do to reform our electoral system for all to agree on it at IPAC. But for this particular electoral Commission since we voted in 2020 , we are left with just about nine months into a new election and you are now coming with a major changes. If you do that you don’t build the confidence of the people in the electoral process”.
He added “there are somethings we keep complaining but nobody cares. We are back to IPAC after Peace Council engaged us. Now EC wants to shift the election date and some changes they have to make in a new CI to change the old CI. Why wait till now. You don’t spring surprises on people like that
Meanwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) has meanwhile issued a statement through its General Secretary, Fifi Fiave Kwetey, rejecting any change of date for the 2024 election. Kwetey stated, “It is untrue that the majority of political parties at IPAC agreed to the November 2024 date.”
The NDC emphasized that there was a clear consensus on 2028 as the preferred year and accused the Electoral Commission of misleading the public about the level of support for the proposed date during the IPAC meeting held on January 29, 2024.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
