PRESS RELEASE FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS BY THE GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEF ON 21ST NOVEMBER  2020.

PRESS RELEASE FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS BY THE GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEF ON 21ST NOVEMBER  2020.

GOOD MORNING NIIMEI, NENEME, NAAMEI

MEDIA PRESENT

It is a great honor to have you all present at this moment.  I am indeed grateful for your quick response to our call.

Firstly, we wish to observe a minute of silence for our departed Ex-President H.E. President Jerry John Rawlings and the rest of our departed heroes.

May his soul and that of our departed heroes rest in the bosom of the almighty God.

Here we are again saddled with another electioneering hurdle before us.  To choose a better leader, and good parliamentary candidates to steer the affairs of our beloved country.  

Ghana has been to polls several times and peacefully, which has earned her a name the beacon of Democracy in Africa and the world at large. Per our records so far in terms of election Ghana has been to the polls 7 times and have come out successfully. It is feather in our cup and we need to commend ourselves for this achievement. 

We believe this upcoming elections are no different. We know we can go through this as one people. Our politicians are seeking our mandate to serve the populace and the country as a whole.  For this reason, they will employ all strategies and tactics to make them win power. In the end it is our responsibility to unite that people for a common course. This must be our focus; Those politicians must be exposed without any fear. As Traditional Authorities and fathers of the land, there are measures we are requesting all and sundry to exhibit in order for the country to enjoy a smooth and a peaceful election. 

For the politician, we employ you to be very circumspect in your utterances and your actions on political platforms. Your words should unite the people rather than divide them. No politician should give any weapons and harmful objects to any persons to cause harm to lives and properties. We should not forget we are one people, bonded together with a common destiny.

Politics are suppose to be the contest of ideas and proving track records.  One need to just espouse his ideas and back it with the necessary actions and the electorates themselves will choose the best candidate.  In these modern times and age no responsible leader will ask his followers to indulge themselves in violence.

In order to secure power, you do not have to kill to become a parliamentarian.  One day we will all account for our stewardship either on this earth or to our maker.

To the Electoral Commission, we entreat them to create a level playing field for all candidates and eschew every form of biasness.  In all this, electoral commission should also endeavor to be firm in its dealing as stated in the 1992 constitution.  They should not be swayed by people’s emotions and unnecessary demands from all political parties.  The electoral commission must stick to what the constitution mandates it to do and make sure everybody exercise his or her franchise as a citizen of Ghana. We should ensure free and fair Election especially during the Transmission of results

To the electorate, do not allow yourselves to be use for any negative action, your mandate is your right and you should not allow ourselves to be manipulated to suit the whims and caprices of some individuals. Let’s be each other keeper because political parties will come and go but Ghana and our family systems will forever exist.  I also challenge the youth to shame any politician who would like to exploits their energy to foment trouble. You do not known what the future holds for you so do not kill yourself for someone to gain power, Just examine your life which party has impacted your life positively and take a decision rather than relying on the false promises of some politicians with the hope of securing you a job when they win power.

Some politicians have employed the following strategies.

• Segregation of people along political, tribal religious lines 
• Employing of vigilantes to steal ballot boxes causing harm at polling stations and coalition centers.

In all these, have you seen Parliamentarian, Presidential candidates or their family members indulging themselves in such acts. WHO PERPERTRATES SUCH ACTS ?. We cannot all belong to one Party even as brothers, neighbors and one religious’ group. At any point in time only one party can win power during an election 

To the Press, as a fourth estate and gatekeepers your work is well spelt out.  Your duty is to expose all wrongs doing and bad practices, but remember freedom comes with a lot of Responsibilities. Rwanda was plunged into chaos through a media outlet so the media should know the kind of influence they wield in all these we edge the media to be circumspect in their reportage in order not to inflame passion. With the influx of social media, bloggers should be weary of what ever they put online especially those outside and living outside the country.

To our security agencies.  we edge you to exercise your constitutional mandate without any favoritism or biasness, you have done this over and over without any major hitch and we have confidence in.  your ability to deliver once again.  The security institutions have been in existence before all the political parties and you have the mandate to protect lives and properties. A task we expect you to deliver without any challenges.  We wish to assure you that you have the support of the traditional authorities within the region hence no need to panic or hold back your services. 

Lastly, we ask all traditional rulers to support all state institutions who have a mandate to deliver during this election.  Let us not forget chiefs are barred from active politics and all should desist form lending open support to any Political party.

We know that Ghana will sail through one more time and the rest of the world is looking up to us for a successful election. In the end Ghana wins.

“Service to mankind is not compulsory, so if the people don’t give you their mandate to serve(rule), please don’t start any agitation. Service is not by force.”

Long live Ghana and may God bless us all.