The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has admonished Ghanaians to critically examine all presidential and parliamentary candidates and choose wisely as the country prepares to elect a new president and legislators on December 7, 2024.
Speaking at the 2nd Speaker’s Seminal Lecture at the University for Development Studies in Tamale on August 31, 2024 Rt. Hon. Bagbin emphasised the importance of informed decision-making during the election.
He encouraged citizens to carefully consider their choices and select leaders who will build a better future for Ghana.
“The choices we make in the coming months will define not just our legacy but the fate of our democracy. We either rise above the temptations of short-term gains or succumb to the allure of power at any cost. Democracy is not a zero-sum game,” he noted.
The Speaker’s Seminal Lecture, themed: “Working Together: Building Trust for a Free, Fair, Credible and Peaceful Election,” brought together leaders, media, security forces and citizens to discuss the importance of trust and cooperation in promoting peaceful elections.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin acknowledged the progress Ghana has made in its search for a better system of government and development, despite the decline of its democratic values, credentials and institutions.
He emphasised the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
“Good governance cannot be the responsibility of any person, institution or group of people. It is a responsibility of all stakeholders. Trust is a key ingredient in human relationships, but it is gradually eluding us.
“We cannot achieve a free, fair, credible and peaceful election without trust. To achieve this goal, we must work together to build trust in ourselves and our institutions of state. Every single person matters and every institution matters,” he said.
He added, “Ghana cannot achieve this goal if we just stand and stare or adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Things don’t happen by chance; people make them happen.”
Speaker Bagbin highlighted the proactive measures the legislature has taken to reach out to all stakeholders to work together to ensure a peaceful election in December 2024.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Kwesi Aning, a security consultant at the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Center, reminded stakeholders that peaceful elections are a collective responsibility and urged all to work together to ensure a free, fair, credible, and peaceful electoral process.
Prof. Aning stressed the importance of transparency, fairness, and accountability in election administration, as well as the need for stakeholders to be informed and engaged throughout the process.
He also emphasised the significance of inclusivity, noting that vulnerable groups must be given preferential treatment at all electoral activity centers.
The security consultant commended the Electoral Commission for its efforts to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in the electoral process.
He urged political parties and candidates to adhere to electoral procedures and laws and promote peace and transparency throughout the electoral process.
Prof. Aning reminded voters of their critical role in ensuring the integrity of the election, urging them to report irregularities, advocate for fair processes and promote transparency.
He emphasised the importance of accepting election outcomes and respecting the democratic process to ensure peaceful elections.
The Tamale Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Philip Naameh, who chaired the function, stressed the need for all stakeholders in the electoral process to embrace collaboration, build trust among themselves, ensure integrity and peace building and continue to engage others. “By working together, we can build a legacy of trust,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Development Studies called on Ghanaians to renew their mindset about elections, seeing them as a means to an end, not an end in themselves.
“This is the challenge we face as a country. We don’t elect for nothing; we elect for a purpose,” he underscored.
The Northern Regional Minister, Shani Alhassan Shaibu, urged citizens to commit to the collective good of the country and not champion selfish interests.
A Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Samuel Tettey, assured of conducting the 2024 general elections in a free, fair, credible, and transparent manner. He took time to respond to questions from participants that bothered on irregularities, vote transfer, and BVD machines.
By Stephen Odoi-Larbi
