The National Peace Council (NPC) will meet with leaders of various political parties today, Thursday, 28th November, to sign a presidential peace pact, just nine days before the 7th December general elections.
According to the NPC, the event is crucial in affirming the commitment of all presidential candidates to maintaining peace before, during, and after the elections.
Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM, NPC Chairman Reverend Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi expressed optimism that all parties would participate in the signing, despite concerns raised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“So far, we believe all the parties will be present. We have received commitments from all of them, and they have been given copies of the pact to review and provide feedback. To date, no party has raised adverse objections. Preparations for the logistics and arrangements for the signing are underway,” he stated.
However, uncertainty surrounds the participation of the NDC’s presidential candidate, John Mahama. The NDC has criticized the pact as merely symbolic and lacking actionable measures.
During a meeting with the Peace Council’s Committee on Vigilantism and Election-Related Violence on Tuesday, 20th August 2024, NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia outlined six conditions for reconsidering their stance. These include:
1. Prosecution of individuals responsible for the eight deaths during the 2020 elections.
2. Implementation of recommendations from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence inquiry.
3. Requiring President Akufo-Addo, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief Justice, the National Security Coordinator, and the Attorney General to sign the pact.
Meanwhile, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has confirmed its readiness to sign the peace pact. Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Director of Communications for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, affirmed the party’s commitment to ensuring peace during the December elections.