Commit to zero tolerance for election violence – Dr Opuni Frimpong urges parties

Former General Secretary of the Christian Council, Dr Kwabena Opuni Frimpong is asking political parties to commit to zero tolerance for electoral violence and associated deaths in the 2024 December 7 polls.

He made the call following the eight deaths recorded during the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking at the Regional Peace Summit in Techiman, Dr Frimpong described the electoral violence that claimed two lives in Techiman during the polls as unfortunate.

“Our elections have been characterized by electoral violence, especially electoral death. Unfortunately, this area Techiman, they have witnessed that during the 2020 elections and now together with all the key stakeholders we want to commit to zero tolerance of electoral death that is our message”.

Rev. Dr Opuni-Frimpong, who is also a lecturer in African Christianity at the Department of Religious Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), stated that as the campaign season kicks off, there was a need for all stakeholders, especially political party leaders to come on board to drum home the need to ensure that the country did not record any violence before, during and after this year’s presidential and parliamentary polls.

“We must go through the election peacefully. We know every election has some form of tension, but it should not lead to death. Ghanaians must not lose their lives because somebody is becoming a Member of Parliament or a President,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has vowed to ensure that the 2024 general election is transparent, free and fair and without violence.

He has, therefore, cautioned elements plotting to foment trouble in the election to reconsider their action, stressing that he would not countenance any act of violence.

“We are going to elect a leader; we are not going to war. I want them to understand that my government will not allow any nation wrecker to plunge this country into a state of war and anarchy because of the election,” he stated.