Interior Minister Henry Quartey has allayed the fears of Ghanaians regarding the smooth transfer of power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to an opposition party should the incumbent get defeated in the upcoming 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 in Accra Wednesday, May 15, 2024, assured Ghanaians of his party’s dedication to ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
He reiterated that the NPP would indeed facilitate a peaceful transition of power should they not emerge victorious in the impending general elections.
“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.
He also warned that persons who incite violence before, during or after the 2024 general elections would be dealt with irrespective of political affiliation.
This follows the reported pockets of violence recorded at some centres in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise, which led to the arrest of the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda.
“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.”
