Who Determines Flawed Polls?

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) blazed the trail in resolving electoral entanglements when it turned to the courts.

It was a precedence which others should emulate when they have issues at the polls.

When the then opposition NPP felt cheated in the 2012 polls it resorted to the judicial system for redress and attracted plaudits from observers of the political terrain, within and without. At the end of the day although Nana Akufo-Addo was not satisfied with the outcome of the adjudication, and most Ghanaians shared his stance, he could only ask his party supporters to move on and prepare for the next elections.

Neither bottles were broken nor Molotov cocktails hurled at each other in protest. Political sportsmanship demands such decency.

That is the way to go in civilized and democratic systems. Since we belong to the bracket of the civilized and democratic all we can do now is learn to go to court for redress of issues.

Those who are already asserting that they would not accept results of so-called flawed elections can do better than prepare the grounds for unproductive breaches through provocative and harsh language which are intended to trigger unrest.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, did the appropriate as a king when he counseled aggrieved parties to resort to the courts should they have issues with electoral results.

His recent advice to the political elite in the country, coming on the heels of the former President’s decision not to accept the results when they are predicated upon flawed electoral processes is telling.

It might sound easy to declare an election flawed but it takes a court of competent jurisdiction to make the determination of the integrity of the process.

It bears traits of irresponsibility and even incivility when political party leaders or their assigns pass remarks which tend to threaten the peace of the country.

As the Asante King observed, Ghana needs peace more than anything at this time of her political development.

It has been a long journey since independence and so such remarks from those who seek to return to power ominous as they sound should not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Institutions of state, especially such independent ones as the Electoral Commission, must be spared the innuendos and sarcasm of bad politicians who think their loss suggests a flawed electoral process.

We cherish the peace and tranquility of this country and abhor the peace compromising language of desperate political players.

We are grateful to Providence that most Ghanaians would turn their backs on such sabre-rattling personalities who have already shed their garments of deference and statesmanship. Ghana shall prevail they shall drown with no dirges sang for them unless they stand down from the pedestal of irresponsible conduct.

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