ECOWAS refutes claims it predicted violence in Ghana’s 2024 elections

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has firmly denied reports suggesting that it has predicted violence during Ghana’s upcoming general elections scheduled for 7 December 2024.

This rebuttal follows claims made by The Herald newspaper, which alleged that a recent ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding mission to Ghana had foreseen violent polls due to a highly tense political climate.

In an official statement, ECOWAS denounced the article as sensationalist and misleading.

“The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been drawn to a sensational article by The Herald tabloid of 21 August 2024 purported to capture ‘a draft statement’ on the findings of its recent Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Ghana under the crudely misleading banner ECOWAS Mission predicts violence at Ghana’s 2024 polls. The Commission categorically denounces the tabloid’s dishonest reportage,” the statement read.

ECOWAS clarified that its pre-election missions do not issue public statements on their findings, which are instead confidential and intended solely for the President of the Commission.

The organisation also highlighted that the preliminary report from the mission is still undergoing quality control and that, at no point, had ECOWAS predicted violence in Ghana’s electoral process.

“The preliminary report is still undergoing quality control. At no time before, during and after the Fact-Finding Mission has ECOWAS ‘predicted violence’ in the electoral process,” the statement emphasised.

The Commission criticised the media outlet for what it described as an attempt to misuse ECOWAS’s name to incite discord among Ghanaians.

It reiterated its commitment to supporting Ghana in delivering a transparent, inclusive, and peaceful election in December 2024.

“The Commission therefore condemns any attempts by sections of the media to misuse the name of ECOWAS in their vain attempts to sow discord among the over 32-million peace-loving people of Ghana through manipulation, partisan positions and veiled incitement to intolerance and violence. Ghana deserves better,” the statement added.

ECOWAS reaffirmed its trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions and its continued support for the country’s electoral process.

“The ECOWAS Commission reiterates its trust in the resilience of democratic institutions in Ghana. It will continue to accompany the Government and the people of Ghana to once again deliver transparent, inclusive and peaceful elections in December 2024.”

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