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Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has said that Ghana’s upcoming elections are as important for the nation as they are for Africa.
He added that “the elections will be another opportunity for Ghana to show its enviable democratic credentials and for the region to retell a success story of democratic consolidation.”
Dr. Chambas, who is also the director of UNOWAS, spoke via virtual call at the one-day conference on the Ghana elections on December 7. The conference was held on Tuesday at the University of Development Studies Conference Center in Tamale.
The theme of the conference was “Achieving Peaceful, Free, Fair and Credible Elections: A Responsibility for All Ghanaians”. It was organized by the Northern Development and Democratic Institute, a think tank based in Tamale.
According to Dr. Chambas, “Beyond being called the beacon of democracy on the continent, this year’s elections should further deepen Ghana’s constitutional democracy while at the same time reinforcing the aspirations of all parties. Ghanaians to live in peace, harmony and prosperity. “
He said that Ghana had a history of holding peaceful and credible elections backed by strong national institutions and mature politicians.
He added that “we are optimistic that 2020 will be no different. However, you will agree with me that no system is so good that it cannot be improved. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and address any challenges that may undermine the peaceful conduct of the elections, including the possible impact of political vigilantism on the elections.
He stressed that hate speech and the recruitment of young people to promote violence must be rejected and avoided. Likewise, trust between political actors and national institutions must be strengthened and the participation of women must be guaranteed.
Dr. Chambas admonished the media to exhibit high standards of journalism, avoid sensationalism, fake news, and strive to create informed voters with their reporting.
He said the nation relied on security agencies to operate in a professional and non-partisan manner to secure the electoral process.
Furthermore, we remain optimistic that, given the level of national ownership, leadership and responsibility exercised by Ghanaians, these challenges will be resolved or their impact will be mitigated in the pursuit of peaceful elections.
“In this sense, I cannot emphasize the crucial role of religious and traditional leaders in promoting social cohesion, respect for human rights, peace, stability and, ultimately, the development of the country.
“We will always count on your selfless and endless efforts, especially during this electoral period, to defuse tensions, remind political actors of their responsibilities, and unite the country after a hectic and sometimes harsh political period.
Dr. Chambas assured the nation that the United Nations remained a viable partner for Ghana. “We will continue to enhance concentric partnerships with all relevant actors, both national and international, in support of local, regional and national efforts to keep the peace.”
Speakers at the conference included; Ms. Diana Acconcia, EU Ambassador to Ghana; Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Catholic Archbishop of Tamale and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference; Dr. Hakeem Wemah, President of the Northern Development Authority and Mr. Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, President of the National Media Commission.
Source: GNA
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