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Sixteen civil society organizations (CSOs) have asked the security services to immediately initiate investigations into all crimes reported during the electoral process.
Having condemned all acts of violence during and after the December 7 elections, CSOs, in particular, want the security services to prosecute the perpetrators of the outbreaks of violence that have caused several injuries and deaths.
Respect the peace pact
In a joint statement on their observations after the general elections, CSOs called on the leaders of the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (PNP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to respect and comply with the Pact. of Peace of the Presidential Elections. signed before the general election.
He said that they not only pledged to promote peaceful elections, but also pledged to resort to court rulings to address all electoral disputes.
“We have taken note of the issues arising after the declaration of the election results by the Ghana EC and hereby urge that any disagreement with the election result, as declared and published, be resolved. using the procedures established by law and providing the relevant supporting documentation, ”he said.
Furthermore, CSOs encouraged political parties to tell their members to refrain from any type of violence while remaining calm and to follow established procedures for contesting election results.
Organizations
CSOs include the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), the Citizens’ Movement Against Corruption (CMaC), IMANI-Ghana, Penplusbytes, the African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the Foundation of Media for West Africa and SEND Ghana.
The remainder are the African Center for International Law and Responsibility (ACILA), the Renel Ghana Foundation (RGF), CFF-Ghana, MAPnet Ghana, the Lamaconsult Foundation, the Nkosec93 Foundation, the Youth Bridge Foundation and the ABAK Ghana Foundation.
The CSO call followed that of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council of Ghana, which urged the NDC to choose the constitutional option of going to court with the evidence gathered to seek redress for any grievances after the general election.
The GPCC said that any decision by an aggrieved party to seek a review of the election results declared by the EC could only be made through the higher court.
The National Association of Local Authorities (NALAG) has also asked the NDC presidential candidate to go through the legal process to seek redress for what the party describes as electoral fraud.
The association said that seeking legal redress in the Supreme Court was the only reliable way to seek redress if there was evidence of such electoral fraud.
“We have no doubt that, given his democratic credentials, former President John Dramani Mahama will not deviate from the necessary constitutional arrangements,” he said.
OSC
A statement signed by all 16 CSOs praised all key stakeholders, including the EC, political parties, citizens and the media, for their commitment to ensuring generally peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in 2020.
Brainstorming
“Finally, we propose that the EC subsequently convene key stakeholders in the elections to exchange ideas and find permanent solutions to the gaps and errors that have arisen during these elections and update existing electoral laws, policies and procedures with agreed recommendations from such we avoid a future repetition of such challenges.
“Working together, we believe that we can collectively enhance Ghana’s democratic credentials. The speedy resolution of this impasse is vital to maintaining peace and justice. God bless Ghana, ”it read.
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