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President John Mahama has called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard Ghana's democracy and to consolidate its position as West Africa's most peaceful nation.
The President made the remarks while addressing the closing session of the Post-2024 Elections Evaluation Dialogue in Koforidua, organised by the National Peace Council (NPC) in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and other stakeholders.
The three-day conference, on the theme: "Dialoguing for a Stronger Democracy and Social Cohesion," was funded by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and aimed to assess the conduct of the 2024 general election to improve future electoral processes.
Citing the 2024 Global Peace Index, which ranked Ghana 55th globally, a four-place drop from 2023, President Mahama described the report as a reminder of the need for continuous efforts to maintain peace.
"While we remain the most peaceful country in West Africa, we cannot afford complacency.
We must address electoral violence, toxic political rhetoric and mistrust in institutions," he stated.
He condemned isolated incidents of violence during the 2024 polls and directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure swift investigations and prosecution of offenders.
He also disclosed that the Attorney-General was finalising a report for Cabinet to compensate victims of electoral violence.
President Mahama commended the Electoral Commission of Ghana, security agencies, political parties and civil society organisations for their roles in ensuring a peaceful election, but emphasised the need for further reforms.
"Democracy should not be a winner-takes-all system. We must invest in civic education, youth engagement and non-violent political participation," he said.
While acknowledging the impact of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (2019, Act 999) in reducing political violence, he stressed the need for stronger measures to address grievances and ensure fairness in institutions.
The President urged participants to ensure the dialogue's recommendations, covering electoral integrity, misinformation, youth engagement and media responsibility, were forwarded to relevant institutions, including the Constitutional Review Committee, for implementation.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, he said: "Great anger and violence can never build a nation."
He called for a rejection of divisive politics and a renewed commitment to national unity.
"As President, I reaffirm my dedication to preserving Ghana's peace and upholding the dignity of every citizen. Let this dialogue mark a new chapter of cooperation and progress," he declared.
The event brought together political leaders, religious groups, civil society organisations and development partners to evaluate the 2024 polls and propose measures for more credible future elections.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NPC Governing Board, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, stressed the need for participants to critically reflect on the role of political parties in restraining their members and cultivating democratic tolerance.
"Our democracy must never be reduced to a winner-takes-all contest where the stakes are so high that violence becomes an option," he said.
Most Rev. Fianu called for more investment in civic education and youth political dialogue.
