flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the need for concrete actions to support the commitments made in the Peace Pact for the 2024 general elections, cautioning that mere words are insufficient.
Speaking at the Peace Pact signing ceremony in Accra on November 28, 2024, Mahama stressed that mistrust and insincerity among stakeholders could derail efforts to ensure peaceful elections.
He expressed concerns over past events, including the 2020 general elections and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which, he said, raised doubts about the sincerity of commitments to peace.
The former president urged all parties to align their actions with their pledges, emphasizing that genuine efforts are essential to maintaining Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful democratic nation.
“It is all well and good for us to commit to peace and recite beautiful platitudes.
All the efforts at building peace before, during and after the 2024 elections would come to nought if undermined and if there is mistrust and insincerity. Mistrust is built through a mismatch between words and gas lighting on the path of those in authority.
“There is reason to be concerned that the signing of this pact, though well-intentioned, could amount to nothing if it is not followed by concrete actions to guarantee peace by the stakeholders and government.
“Events and happenings in the last election and during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election create considerable doubts about the genuineness of some of the commitments we might make today,” he stated.