General News of Saturday, 25 June 2016
Source: Starrfmonline.com
Charlotte Osei
The chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana Mrs. Charlotte Osei has admonished political parties to see to it that their members adhere to every rule of the game of elections to ensure Ghana comes out of the 2016 elections with a good image.
Speaking at the National Peace Summit organized by the Rotary Club in partnership with the EIB Election Hub, Mrs. Osei said “flawed elections can “create tensions, and trigger unrest and violence” hence every hand must be on deck for a peaceful election.
“We owe our nation Ghana, and the children of Ghana the duty to jointly ensure peace and stability in Ghana,” the EC boss said in a statement read on her behalf at the Summit held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Saturday.
She added: “There are no victors in chaos, only victims. The outcome of a peaceful election process ensures that we all, along with our nation, emerge together as victors.”
Mrs. Osei pledged the Electoral Management Body’s commitment to “ensuring an electoral process that guarantees people the right to cast their ballots without intimidation or violence; a process that ensures that every vote counts equally; an inclusive and transparent collation and declaration process; in accordance with the principles of electoral justice and the laws of Ghana.”
According to her, state institutions and political actors must make it a point to respect the rule of law before, during and after the elections because that is a “critical aspect of ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.”
“The right to vote is a sacred right in our Constitution that must not be violated in yielding to the loudest voices or at will. We owe a duty to each other to insist that state institutions and political parties involved in the electoral process respect the law, respect the processes enshrined in the law and respect the rights of others, particularly the vulnerable in our society whose voices are not always heard,” Mrs. Osei opined.
“The Commission is resolute in its conviction to do its part. It is now the duty of every Ghanaian to demonstrate his or her commitment to ensuring a peaceful electoral outcome,” Mrs. Osei remarked.