Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghana’s moral leaders including traditional, religious, civil society organizations to speak out against political violence as the country approaches the December elections.
He made this appeal during a meeting with the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa, as part of his three-day campaign tour.
Mr. Mahama expressed concern over the increasing incidents of political violence, attributing the situation to a culture of impunity within the political establishment. He emphasized that perpetrators of violence continue their actions because they feel shielded by those in power, rather than being held accountable for their crimes.
The former president warned that the failure to address these acts decisively could lead to an escalation of violence, posing a threat to the safety and peace of citizens.
He urged the authorities to take concrete measures to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
Mr. Mahama also referenced the violent clash between supporters of the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Mamobi in Accra, cautioning that Ghanaians should prepare for more such incidents if immediate action is not taken. He criticized the government’s track record in handling political violence, citing the Ayawaso West Wuogon incident as an example where recommendations from a commission of inquiry were not acted upon.
While affirming the NDC’s commitment to peace, Mahama stressed that his party could not continue to be victimized during elections. He hinted that if the trend of unchecked violence persists, other groups might also resort to self-defense, which could have unpleasant consequences.
He assured the chiefs that an NDC government would revisit unresolved high-profile criminal cases that occurred during the tenure of the current administration, vowing to ensure accountability and justice.
