John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer for Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned that any peace commitments made ahead of the 2024 elections will be meaningless without genuine commitment and trust among all stakeholders.

Speaking at the signing of a peace pact on November 28, Mahama raised concerns about the practical impact of such agreements. While acknowledging the well-intentioned nature of peace pacts, he stressed that they could fail unless backed by concrete actions to ensure lasting peace.

“There is concern that despite the goodwill behind this pact, it could amount to nothing if not followed by real efforts to guarantee peace from all parties, including the government,” Mahama said.

He highlighted the gap between peace declarations and actions that undermine them, particularly from those in positions of power. “It is easy to make commitments to peace, but if mistrust and insincerity persist, all efforts to build peace before, during, and after the 2024 elections will be in vain,” he added. “Mistrust arises when there is a disconnect between words and actions, compounded by gaslighting from those in authority.”

Mahama referenced events from previous elections, particularly the 2020 election and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, to underscore his concerns about the sincerity of peace efforts. He cited the violent incident during the by-election, where masked men, allegedly acting on government orders, shot at innocent civilians, some of whom remain disabled.

“The failure of the government to act on the recommendations of the Emile Short Commission only deepens the lack of trust,” Mahama stated. “Additionally, the government’s inaction following the deaths of eight citizens during the 2020 election raises serious doubts about its commitment to peace. How can we trust that such incidents won’t be repeated?”

Source:TheDotNews