The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has stressed the importance of concrete actions to back the commitments made in the Peace Pact for the 2024 general elections, warning that words alone are not enough. Speaking at the Peace Pact signing ceremony in Accra on November 28, 2024, Mahama highlighted that mistrust and insincerity among stakeholders could undermine efforts to ensure peaceful elections.
He expressed concerns over past events, including the 2020 general elections and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which he said raised doubts about the sincerity of commitments to peace. The former president urged all parties to align their actions with their pledges, emphasising that genuine efforts are essential to maintaining Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful, democratic nation.
“It is all well and good for us to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes. All the efforts at building peace before, during and after the 2024 elections would come to nought if undermined and if there is mistrust and insincerity. Mistrust is built through a mismatch between words and gaslighting on the path of those in authority.
“There is reason to be concerned that the signing of this pact, though well-intentioned, could amount to nothing if it is not followed by concrete actions to guarantee peace by the stakeholders and government. “Events and happenings in the last election and during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election create considerable doubts about the genuineness of some of the commitments we might make today,” he stated.
By: William Narh
