Some 16 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have entreated the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and any political party alleging vote rigging in the 2020 general election to send their evidence to court and desist from lawless conduct in the country.
They implored all aggrieved parties to use the laid-down procedures outlined by law and provide the relevant supporting documentation to resolve any contentious matters amicably.
The CSOs include Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Citizens Movement Against Corruption (CMaC), IMANI-Ghana, Penplusbytes, Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Media Foundation for West Africa, SEND Ghana and Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA).
The rest are Renel Ghana Foundation (RGF), CFF-Ghana, MAPnet Ghana, Lamaconsult Foundation, Nkosec93 Foundation, Youth Bridge Foundation and ABAK Foundation Ghana.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Mrs Jean Mensa declared President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) the winner of the 2020 polls with 6,730,413 of the total valid votes cast, representing 51.30%.
The closest contender of the president-elect, Mr John Dramani Mahama of the NDC also obtained 6,214,889 votes, representing 47.36%.
However, NDC and its presidential candidate, Mr Mahama rejected the results of the December 7 polls, describing it as “fictionalised”.
According to Mr Mahama and the NDC, the elections have been rigged for the sitting President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The NDC has not disclosed how it intends to challenge the election results though, apart from pockets of demonstrations by its supporters.
Reacting to NDC’s conduct, the CSOs in a statement reminded the leaders of the NDC and the governing NPP to respect and fulfil the pledges they signed in the Presidential Election Peace Pact.
The pact, according to the CSOs, included not just a commitment to promoting peaceful elections but also a pledge to resort to judicial resolutions to address all election disputes.
They also condemned all acts of violence and called on the political parties to tell their members to refrain from any violence, to stay calm, and to follow the laid down procedures provided to challenge election results.
Read the full statement from the CSOs below:
STATEMENT BY CSOs ON MATTERS ARISING AFTER THE DECLARATION OF THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, commend all the key stakeholders including the Electoral Commission, Political Parties, Citizens and the Media for their commitments towards ensuring generally peaceful Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2020.
We have taken note of matters arising after the declaration of election results by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and hereby:
1. Urge that any disagreements with the outcome of the election results as declared and gazetted should be resolved using the laid down procedures outlined by law and providing the relevant supporting documentation;
2. Condemn all acts of violence and recommend that the Security Services immediately launch investigations into all reported crimes during the electoral process and in particular prosecute perpetrators involved in the recorded pockets of violence which have led to various injuries and deaths.
3. Remind the leaders of the two (2) major political parties to respect and fulfil the pledges they signed in the Presidential Election Peace Pact, which includes not just a commitment to promoting peaceful elections but also a pledge to resort to judicial resolutions to address all election disputes;
4. Encourage political parties to tell their members to refrain from any violence, to stay calm, and to follow the laid down procedures provided to challenge election results;
5. Finally, propose that key stakeholders to the elections should subsequently be convened by the EC to brainstorm and find permanent solutions to the gaps and errors that have emerged during these elections and to update existing electoral laws, policies and procedures with agreed recommendations such that we prevent a future re-occurrence of such challenges.
Working together, we believe that we can collectively enhance Ghana’s democratic credentials. Speedy resolution of this impasse is vital to maintaining peace as well as justice.
God bless Ghana!
SIGNED BY THE UNDERLISTED ORGANISATIONS
1. Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC)
2. Citizens Movement Against Corruption (CMaC)
3. IMANI-Ghana
4. Penplusbytes
5. Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP)
6. Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)
7. Media Foundation for West Africa
8. SEND Ghana
9. Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA)
10. Renel Ghana Foundation (RGF)
11. CFF-Ghana
12. MAPnet Ghana
13. Lamaconsult Foundation
14. Nkosec93 Foundation
15. Youth Bridge Foundation
16. ABAK Foundation Ghana
