The National Peace Council of Ghana has raised urgent concerns about its financial capacity as it gears up for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Reverend Dr Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the Council, underscored the critical need for additional funding to effectively carry out essential election-related activities amidst increasing demands and challenges.
Dr Gyamfi emphasized that the current workload has stretched their resources thin, hindering their ability to perform crucial functions such as mediating conflicts, facilitating dialogue among political parties, and ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
“In dollar terms, we need approximately $1 million for election-related activities. Some donors have shown interest in assisting, but more support is necessary,” Dr Gyamfi disclosed during a recent statement.
The Council, known for its pivotal role in maintaining peace and stability during elections, faces mounting pressures exacerbated by the complex electoral environment in Ghana.
The need for adequate financial resources is critical to enable the Council to effectively manage and mitigate potential election-related conflicts and violence.
Addressing concerns raised during inter-party dialogues on election violence mitigation, Rev. Adu Gyamfi highlighted the strain on regional secretaries who are currently overburdened with their responsibilities.
“Our regional secretaries urgently require additional support, including more staff and logistical resources such as drivers. The workload has increased significantly, necessitating a bolstering of our capabilities,” Rev. Gyamfi stressed.