The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on political parties to decrease their distrust of the Electoral Commission and collaborate to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. While recognizing the necessity for increased vigilance by political parties, he stressed the importance of rebuilding trust between the Electoral Commission and the participating parties and candidates.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made these remarks over dinner with members of the Ghana Bar Association at the Manhyia Palace, held on the sidelines of the Association’s Annual General Conference. The Asantehene underscored the need to protect Ghana’s democratic values and urged all citizens to prioritise peace and avoid electoral violence.
I remain pretty sanguine about the outcome for two main reasons. Ghanaians have arrived where we are, not by accident, but through the force of history. In our first quarter of a century of existence as an independent nation, we have tried almost every system of governance conceived by man.
“We have had a one-party state. We have had military rule of three different types and we have experienced democracy with the power of the people to choose their government through the ballot box.
“However discreditable one may think of the people, I can see no circumstances in which Ghanaians will sacrifice the freedom of today, the prospect of changing their government by power of their thumb, for any other alternative.”
“Secondly, however, one may distract the individuals in charge of the electoral process at any given time, it has been demonstrated that changes will occur despite the individual operatives. The evidence of our history is that the system does produce the outcome that reflects the voice of the people and remains ready as always to play a part in protecting the integrity of the process when the need arises.
So here again, I will appeal for a lowering of mistrust. Heightened vigilance is of course necessary, but we need to restore confidence between contesting political parties and candidates in the Electoral Commission.
By: Hafiz Tijani
