Election 2024: Peace pacts must be backed by action, says Mahama

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has raised concerns about the genuineness of commitments to peace made by political stakeholders ahead of Ghana’s 2024 elections.

Speaking at the signing of a peace pact in Accra on Thursday (28 November) Mr. Mahama emphasized that such agreements risk becoming ineffective without sincerity, trust, and concrete actions from all involved parties.

“There is reason to be concerned that the signing of this pact, though well-intentioned, could amount to nothing if not followed by concrete actions to guarantee the peace by the stakeholders and government,” the former President said.

Highlighting the gap between public declarations and actual behaviour, the former president pointed to mistrust as a significant barrier to lasting peace.

“It is all well and good for us to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes. However, all efforts to build peace before, during, and after the 2024 elections would be futile if mistrust and insincerity persist. Mistrust arises when there is a disconnect between words and actions, compounded by gaslighting from those in authority,” he said.

Mr. Mahama also referenced past events, including the 2020 elections and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which he described as moments that cast doubt on the sincerity of peace commitments.

“We all recall the appalling spectacle of masked men acting on the orders of operatives of the government, shooting indiscriminately at innocent Ghanaians going about their legitimate electoral activity during that by-election. Some of the victims of that shooting incident remain incapacitated till now,” he lamented.

“The inaction of the government in the face of the murder of the eight of our citizens during the last election casts a shadow of doubt on the government’s commitment to maintaining peace. How are we to believe that such killings would not reoccur?” Mr. Mahama questioned.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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