Interior Minister Henry Quartey has warned members of all political parties ahead of the December 07 elections against indulging in acts that would compromise the peace of the nation.
He says the Ministry will ensure that the peace that exists in the country will prevail before, during and after the polls.
Mr. Quartey has noted that his outfit will not tolerate any act of violence irrespective of the quarters it would come from, admonishing the public not to mistaken any decision taken at the time as political vindictiveness.
Following reports of violence in the ongoing limited voter registration at various centres across the country, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, at a press briefing Wednesday, May 15, 2024, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the law takes it course irrespective of who commits.
“Let me sound the wording again, You know my track record, I walk my talk. Anybody who goes to do something other than what is prescribed, we will do our best to ensure that the law will take its course and the court of competent jurisdiction will do its work.
“May I sound this warning that it will not be political vindictiveness. If anybody commits, whoever the person is, we shall ensure that the law will take its course,” he stated.
The former Greater Accra Regional Minister also assured Ghanaians that his party will handover power smoothly should they, in the unlikely event, lose the elections.
His statement comes on the back of recent comments by President Akufo-Addo over his unwillingness to handover power to someone he has defeated in an election.
President Akufo-Addo on April 24, 2024, at a visit to the chief of the Waala traditional area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, indicated that it is not proper for him to relinquish power to John Dramani Mahama whom he defeated and took over from in the 2016 elections, a stance he believes the chief understands from his position as a traditional authority.
“Before the election is held, I am going to come here and pay my proper goodbye to you and thank you for the cooperation that I received from you when I was president. God willing, when I come, I will come with the man who is going to be my successor. Wa Naa, you know that the man I removed from the seat, I cannot have him as my successor and as a traditional ruler, you understand what I am saying,“ President Akufo-Addo had said.
The comments, which was a repetition of a statement he had made a year earlier, generated controversy, prompting the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to caution the NPP at a press conference to opt for a peaceful transfer of power for the betterment of the party.
But the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, addressing the media assured Ghanaians of his party’s dedication to ensuring a peaceful electoral process and peaceful transition of power should they not emerge victorious in the polls.
“As a politician, as a political party, it is our hope, it is our wish, it is our belief that by the grace of God, the good people of this country, the good work that we have done in infrastructure and in other interventions, they will give us another mandate.
“Perish the thought, and I say again, perish the thought, If they decide to give their mandate to somebody, we will handover peacefully and walk away, go to the drawing board and come back Insha Allah. But I know that the grace of God abounds and so we shall break the 8,” he assured.
Election 2024: Without a credible voter register, there can be no transparent elections – Jean Mensa
