With 19 days for Ghana to go to the polls, contesting political parties must commit to a peace pact as soon as possible, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, has advised.
“All political parties must sign the peace pact as soon as possible because that is a sure way to signal to the young people on the streets that violence in any form will not be the way to go during the elections,” she stated.
Speaking at the 35th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Ghana in Accra last weekend, Ms Palmer touted Ghana’s democratic credentials, which she admitted were the envy of the rest of the continent and the world at large and stressed the need for that to be jealously guarded during and after the crucial December 7 general election.
The event, which was also used to commemorate America’s Thanksgiving Day, was attended by former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, who was honoured for his role in strengthening the ties between Ghana and the United States of American (USA) during his two-term tenure as President.
The call comes at a time when leaders of some political parties are refusing to sign the peace pact ahead of the general election on December 7.
In view of the heated campaigns by the political parties, particularly the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the biggest opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), many civil society organisations (CSOs), religious bodies, among other groupings in the country, have stressed the need for the contesting parties to sign a peace pact as a demonstration of their commitment to ensure peaceful elections in the country.