Presidential candidates contesting the December 7 elections have signed a peace pact as a sign of their commitment to ensure and uphold peace ahead of the 2024 polls, during and after.
The event took place at the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City, Accra, under the theme: Pursuing Peaceful Elections, Non-Violence, and Justice.
Currently, 13 presidential candidates are officially contesting Ghana’s 2024 elections.
The current vice president and flagbearer of the ruling (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, and former president and presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, are the two leading candidates in contention to win the poll.
Others include independent candidates such as Alan Kyerematen and George Twum-Barima-Adu.
Speaking at the signing of the 4th Presidential Election Peace Pact in Accra on Thursday, November 28, Jean Mensa encouraged confidence in the electoral process and emphasised the importance of a peaceful and stable environment during the elections.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting peace throughout the electoral process leading up to the 2024 general elections.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), made a passionate appeal to political parties, the media, and security agencies to preserve peace during and after the elections. He stressed the need for all actors to ensure peace prevails, emphasising that Ghana has always passed the test of democracy during elections.
In attendance for the signing of the peace pact, John Mahama remarked that although the NDC will protect the country’s peace, the onus lies on all to play their part in safeguarding the country’s peace.
“We are all too aware of the devastating consequences of electoral violence in other countries. We cannot afford to traverse that same path. As patriotic citizens, we have a collective responsibility to ensure our country remains a beacon of peace and stability in our subregion, and we in the NDC stand prepared to play our part to achieve this,” he said.
His primary contender, Dr Bawumia, also assured that, “As we head into the December 2024 polls, the 9th presidential elections in Ghana, nine days from today, I am certain of two outcomes. Ghana will win, and peace will reign.”
He also added that “My plea to everybody involved in the electioneering process, including candidates, political parties, electoral officers, voters, the media, security, and the general public, is to take responsibility for ensuring peace and harmony seriously and to demonstrate that we are not reluctant Democrats.”