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The principal investigator of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Professor Kwesi Jonah, has addressed some of the concerns that have arisen about the sincerity of the commitment to the Presidential Peace Pact signed by the current PNP flaggers and the opposition NDC.
The Pact, which was prepared by the National Peace Council, is to ensure that President Nana Akufo-Addo and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama collectively agree to a violence-free election on December 7.
Among other things, it also establishes that the leaders will seek redress through the judicial process, in the event of any electoral dispute.
Although the exercise is the third in eight years, several concerns have been raised about the sincerity of his commitment to the pact.
Among them, the most important is the argument that the whole process is just a facade of a formality before the presidential race.
But talking about Joy news‘Top Story Friday, Professor Jonah questioned the logic and asked to be fired on the grounds that such an argument is unfounded.
“It is not fair to the fine gentlemen, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo. These are seasoned politicians who will not attach their signatures to a document just for the sake of doing it.
“If they know that they will not fulfill the commitment that they are making, they will not do it. And then those who say that are only insulting the intelligence of these gentlemen, “he said.
Address what many describe as reality; violence during elections despite having previously signed a peace pact, Professor Jonah explained that it is the party leaders’ responsibility to call supporters to order in the face of threats of violence.
“Signing a peace pact does not mean that members in all corners where a political party has a branch will equally reach a political consensus.
“What leaders can do is preach peace to their followers and interfere quickly when people engage in violence, whether at the local or national level.”
He advised Ghanaians to follow the example of the 2012 presidential elections, where the New Patriotic Party (PNP), then opposition, resorted to legal proceedings to test the credibility of the election results.
