THE Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, declared Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama as winner of the 2012 Presidential Election. Mr. Mahama, obtained 5,574,761 votes, representing 50.70 per cent, of the valid votes cast while his closest challenger, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) polled 5,248,898 votes, representing 47.74 per cent.
AND since this announcement, the peace of the country has been tampered with as supporters and the leadership of three political parties that contested the polls have made complaints of anomalies in the polls. The Progressive People?s Party (PPP), the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have all had reason to suggest that results of the polls were tampered with and skewed in favour of the ruling NDC.
THOUGH the NPP has decided to head to court, there are reported acts of vandalism currently on going in the country ? all because no one seems to be heeding to the complains of these parties with supporters and cronies of the NDC arguing that the decision to head to court would be to no avail. They argue the NPP has no strong evidence to back their claims and hence defeat awaits the party at the law courts.
THE supporters of the NPP must know that they cannot succeed with violence and as such should abstain from inflicting harm on opponents. Instead, they should heed the calls by their leadership to use due process other than engaging in acts that would be detrimental to the country at the end of the day.
INDEED, we support the condemnation of such violent behaviours by many other parties including the National Peace Council (NPC). However, we cannot call for peace without drawing the attention of all such organisations calling for peace attention to the need for justice to be done in this country.
WE believe the time is up for anyone willing to have peace to consider the petitions of these parties since they can?t all be wrong and the EC right. How could the leadership of three established political parties including one that has been in power for eight years decide to cry wolf when there is indeed no course for complain?
CERTAINLY, there is a case somewhere and we would do ourselves lots of good if we can grant them hearing aside the courtroom instead of inflaming passions. Peace without justice would be meaningless hence the need to allow the NPP and all other such disgruntled parties to test the law instead of condemning them
