The
two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and
the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have urged Ghanaians to use the
opportunity of the August 29 Supreme Court judgement to demonstrate to
the entire world that they can co-exist peacefully in such trying times.
They also advised the security agencies to up their game and assure Ghanaians and the international community that Ghana, which is considered as an oasis of peace, would be intact and nothing untoward would be allowed to occur, before, during and after the August 29 Supreme Court judgement.
The National Organiser of the ruling NDC, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, and a Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Mr Fred Oware, made the call in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in reaction to a caution from the US Embassy to its citizens in Ghana.
The US Embassy in Ghana last Monday advised US citizens of a potential increase in political tensions and the possibility of isolated violence associated with the anticipated August 29 announcement of the Supreme Court’s decision on the legal challenge to 2012 Presidential election results.
In the statement, the US urged its citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance, take appropriate steps to increase their security/ safety awareness during this politically- sensitive period and avoid the offices of political parties, the Supreme Court, the buildings of other institutions associated with the elections, and all political rallies.
The Supreme Court of Ghana is expected to give its judgement on August 29, 2013 on the election petition filed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 NPP presidential candidate, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, the NPP National Chairman.
The petitioners are challenging the results of the Electoral Commission (EC) which declared President John Dramani Mahama as the elected President in the 2012 election.
Mr Oware and Mr Gyan spoke separately to this reporter on phone. the two maintained that the call by the US Embassy to its citizens in Ghana was not out of place; however, Ghanaians must react in a mature manner to the verdict and add a feather to their cup.
According to Mr Gyan, a lot of countries across Africa could not pass similar hurdles when they were presented with issues of such nature, hence the decision by the US to warn its citizens to be cautious.
He noted that it could also be that the US was aware of some intelligence that Ghana’s security agencies had no idea about and suggested that Ghanaian security agencies must liaise with their US counterparts, share such intelligence and nip in the bud any elements that would taint the nation’s peaceful record.
He described the August 29 judgement as an opportunity for Ghanaians to market their peaceful nature and penchant for a stable nation to the international community especially, “for investors to come and invest in Ghana’s bourgeoning democracy.”
Mr Oware said Ghana would use the judgement as a launch pad to leap to greater heights among nations that had embraced democracy and rule of law and prove to the world that an African nation was capable of living peacefully after such verdict.
He also appealed to the security agencies to live above board and deal with any law breaker according to the dictates of the law irrespective of their political affiliations.
By Donald Ato Dapatem
Writer’s email: donald.dapatem@graphic.com.gh
They also advised the security agencies to up their game and assure Ghanaians and the international community that Ghana, which is considered as an oasis of peace, would be intact and nothing untoward would be allowed to occur, before, during and after the August 29 Supreme Court judgement.
The National Organiser of the ruling NDC, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, and a Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Mr Fred Oware, made the call in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in reaction to a caution from the US Embassy to its citizens in Ghana.
The US Embassy in Ghana last Monday advised US citizens of a potential increase in political tensions and the possibility of isolated violence associated with the anticipated August 29 announcement of the Supreme Court’s decision on the legal challenge to 2012 Presidential election results.
In the statement, the US urged its citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance, take appropriate steps to increase their security/ safety awareness during this politically- sensitive period and avoid the offices of political parties, the Supreme Court, the buildings of other institutions associated with the elections, and all political rallies.
The Supreme Court of Ghana is expected to give its judgement on August 29, 2013 on the election petition filed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2012 NPP presidential candidate, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, the NPP National Chairman.
The petitioners are challenging the results of the Electoral Commission (EC) which declared President John Dramani Mahama as the elected President in the 2012 election.
Mr Oware and Mr Gyan spoke separately to this reporter on phone. the two maintained that the call by the US Embassy to its citizens in Ghana was not out of place; however, Ghanaians must react in a mature manner to the verdict and add a feather to their cup.
According to Mr Gyan, a lot of countries across Africa could not pass similar hurdles when they were presented with issues of such nature, hence the decision by the US to warn its citizens to be cautious.
He noted that it could also be that the US was aware of some intelligence that Ghana’s security agencies had no idea about and suggested that Ghanaian security agencies must liaise with their US counterparts, share such intelligence and nip in the bud any elements that would taint the nation’s peaceful record.
He described the August 29 judgement as an opportunity for Ghanaians to market their peaceful nature and penchant for a stable nation to the international community especially, “for investors to come and invest in Ghana’s bourgeoning democracy.”
Mr Oware said Ghana would use the judgement as a launch pad to leap to greater heights among nations that had embraced democracy and rule of law and prove to the world that an African nation was capable of living peacefully after such verdict.
He also appealed to the security agencies to live above board and deal with any law breaker according to the dictates of the law irrespective of their political affiliations.
By Donald Ato Dapatem
Writer’s email: donald.dapatem@graphic.com.gh
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