Introduction & Context
General elections are democratic means for citizens of a particular nation to exercise their franchise and elect leaders to govern that country for a specified period. In the case of Ghana, the constitutional duration is a four (4)-year presidential term renewable once. The elected leaders are given legitimate power to control, decide, and influence the allocation of resources to improve the quality of life of the people.
The period also affords the citizenry a great opportunity to critically assess the ruling government on the effective and efficient use of state resources. By extension, the performance of governments is rewarded either positively or negatively during elections, something that ruling governments, out of complacency, fail to admit, acknowledge, and work at.
Rather, what matters most for many of these political leaders is the ability to secure 50% plus one of the total valid votes cast to get power. This, together with the net political gains that accrue to them in prosecuting government activities, is the key agenda that preoccupies them while in power and not the total well-being of the populace per se.
This observation is further entrenched by the culture of vote buying where election contestants and political parties spend huge sums of money to offer financial or material inducements to voters in exchange for votes and electoral support with the sole objective of winning power.
The act is not only a violation of the electoral laws, but also undermines the integrity of elections, and it is detrimental to democratic governance. Unfortunately, this illegal practice is rapidly gaining momentum in the political space of Ghana and other parts of the world.
Also, political parties intensify their campaign activities in an election year, using different strategies to market their ambitious manifestos and wild promises with the view to convincing the electorate to secure their votes.
Most often, the utterances, insults, and the use of abusive language of these political parties during their campaign trail incite and inflame passions that heighten the political tension and further polarize the nation.
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) is the statutory and mandated independent body responsible for conducting presidential and legislative elections in a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent manner devoid of biases, flaws, violence, rancor, and loss of human life.
Indeed, there are legitimate procedures, rules, and norms that must be followed to be able to declare election results as free, fair, open, and credible, acceptable to all parties.
Failure on the part of the EC to observe the due process has dire consequences on the country. Although independent, the EC plays this critical role with support from major stakeholders such as the government in power, parliament, judiciary, political parties, security agencies, the National Commission of Civic Education, media, civil society, religious bodies, and the electorate.
The upcoming 2024 general elections in Ghana mark the fifth presidential succession and ninth general elections since the return to democratic multiparty politics in 1992, enhancing the country’s reputation for having institutionalised predictable and rules-based presidential transitions.
Interestingly, all the presidential transitionswere between rival political parties, further underscoring Ghanaians’ commitment to respecting electoral outcomes, power sharing, and the rule of law.
This notwithstanding, we have witnessed many electoral frauds, irregularities, malpractices, vote rigging, cheating, bloating of the voter register, incidents of violence, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation, the use of vigilante groups, and other inhumane brutalities that have resulted in electoral disputes, the rejection of election results, and loss of human life and property.
The Hung Parliament, with one independent candidate, shows that the 2024 general elections will keenly be contested. Moving beyond the borders of Ghana, we have seen the worst forms of violence and conflict in many countries as they go to the polls.
It is within this context and the backdrop of consolidating the democratic gains made as a country that the religious bodies, in particular, the Church must be proactive and continue to play her prophetic mandate to ensure peaceful and credible 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The nation is blessed with reputable ecumenical bodies such as the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal and Christian Council, the National Peace Council, and the peaceful coexistence with other religious bodies including the Office of the National Chief Imam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, and the Federation of Muslim Councils.
This atmosphere of religious tolerance and the right to freedom of speech and association enshrined in Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution strengthens and enhances the church’s role in nation-building.
Role of the Church in Ensuring Peaceful and Credible Elections
First, the Church, as a non-partisan institution, and having the largest constituent with a national presence, must take maximum advantage of that platform to intercede for the nation on a regular daily basis.
Christians are urged to seek the peace and prosperity of the nation because when there is peace and prosperity in the land, the inhabitants will also enjoy peace and prosperity (Jer. 29:7). The Church must pray against all forms of attacks, fear, anxiety, and demonic rituals that normally precede general elections in this country.
The Bible says in Eph. 6:12 that we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of the dark age.
But above all, God changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and greater knowledge to those who have an understanding (Dan. 2:21). Romans 13:1 buttresses the point that all governing authorities are established by God.
Acts 1:24-26 states, they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Learning from the Apostles in seeking the perfect will of God when casting lots to replace Judas, Christians do not have any option butto start praying seriously now about the elections for the will of God to be established and not wait until the eleventh hour.
Second, the leadership of these recognised Christian Bodies should engage the leadership of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature, and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and declare a national day of fasting and prayers every quarter where all of them will meet together at a particular place from 10.00 am to 12noon, praying to God to have mercy on the nation as we go to the polls and restore the fortunes of the land, especially after Covid 19 pandemic.
In 2 Chr. 7:14, the Lord says if my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.
Third, in partnership with the Electoral Commission and the National Council for Civic Education, the Church should create a platform for continuous public education and dialogue on voter education, electoral laws, procedures, processes, and individual civic responsibilities toward ensuring peaceful, free, and fair elections.
The development and distribution of voter education materials to its members, holding press conferences, and releasing press statements and pastoral letters should all form part of the Church’s sensitization drive.
The pulpit and the media houses must be used to preach about the need to guard the prevailing peace in the country against all forms of disturbances. Thus, the Church should be seen as an ambassador, mediator, and advocate of peace daily.
Fourth, the recognised Christian Bodies should collaborate with credible think-tank institutions to organize a series of public lectures on all aspects of the economy so that the citizens will better understand the bread-and-butter issues affecting their daily lives.
These lectures, backed by accurate and verifiable figures and data, will enlighten the electorate to critically assess and interrogate party manifestos from an informed position and vote based on policies and competency rather than ethnicity, social affinity, political ideology, or party affiliation.
Voting-based policies and issues conform to the rational choice theory that recognises the individual as a rational human being and when confronted with many choices and given sufficient information about the subject matter, he or she will go in for the option that will yield the best outcomes.
The emerging issues from these forums will set a developmental agenda for the media houses to discuss and create the needed awareness of the elections bearing in mind that for lack of knowledge, my people perish (Hos. 4:6).
Fifth, the Ecumenical bodies, working closely with the National Peace Council, should engage the leadership of the Electoral Commission, the Security Agencies, the Political Parties,the National Media Commission and the Ghana Journalists Association on the key lessons from past elections, remind them of their respective roles in ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections and pray with them.
Following these interface interactions, the National Peace Council should spearhead the process of mobilising the presidential candidates to sign a peace accord, committing themselves to a peaceful election where the results will be accepted by all contestants.
Lastly, the Church and other religious bodies can contribute significantly toward the 2024 general elections by mobilising resources and training their members across the country to serve as domestic election observers to observe the elections. This exercise, together with the one organised by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), will go a long way to enhance the credibility of the election results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, general elections are keenly contested between rival parties because they are all determined to win power, especially when they know it is not easy to win elections in the courtroom. However, the elections are constitutionally governed by laid down rules and regulations which must be strictly adhered to safeguard the peace and tranquility of the country.
The Church, as a neutral player in this game and the conscience of society, given the fact that development only thrives in non-violent environments, must not rest on its oars but discharge its godly mandate with boldness, great humility, love, and respect to ensure a violent-free and credible 2024 elections to the admiration of all and glorify God, our Father in heaven.
Written by
Michael A. Ansa, Development Practitioner
(mikeansa19@yahoo.com)
