Security analyst Col. Festus Boahen Aboagye (Rtd), has said that the integrity score card of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the judiciary are very low heading into the December 07 elections.
Every Ghanaian, per the security expert’s assertion, has a role to play to ensure Ghana remains peaceful before, during and after the elections.
However, Col. Aboagye says the Electoral Commission who supervises the elections has lost its integrity, deepening the doubts of the masses in its work.
“All of us have a responsibility. First of all, the EC’s score card when it comes to integrity is very low. The court’s score card is also very low, the executive is very low,” he told Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Thursday, August 01, 2024.
Speaking about the courts, he noted that both the NPP and NDC have had causes not to believe the ruling of the court in recent elections, which makes the National Security Minister’s comments serious.
“In 2012, the NPP had good reasons why they didn’t believe the ruling of the court. In 2020, the NDC also had a good reason. What does it mean, there is something that the two parties know that we don’t know. So if this time both parties are saying that even if we lose, we will not accept any ruling that pronounces us as defeated, i think they have good reasons to be saying that and therefore the National Security Minister’s warning or admonition should be taken seriously,” he noted.
His comments come on the back of concerns raised by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, that comments being made by the political class appears to be eroding the confidence of the public in the courts.
He fears a particular party might not seek redress at the court should it lose the December polls, following comments being made by the politicians about the courts recently.
During a forum in Accra Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Mr. Kan Dapaah urged the politicians not to run down the judiciary with its comments, expressing that their utterances could be a recipe for chaos.
He advised that a robust electoral system be built for all gain trust in it, so that election results from its outfit would be accepted by all.
“We may for the first time experience a situation where none of the major political parties will be willing to explore the courts to address their grievances.
“Indeed I have heard some senior people in the political space saying that, that they have lost faith in the courts’ ability to address their concerns when it comes to elections. So this can create a situation that can set the stage for chaos.
“And it underscores the need for us to build a robust and transparent electoral system where results coming from same will be acceptable by all parties,” he indicated.
The Minister further urged citizens to prioritise peace in the upcoming polls.
“Ghanaians must also be aware of their responsibilities. They must not allow themselves to be used by politicians who lose elections. Peace is very expensive and sometimes we have to make sacrifices one time or the other to maintain it. So may nobody participate in violence. So those who lose, accept it peacefully,” he noted.
