www.kofiannanfoundation.org
Open in
urlscan Pro
2a06:98c1:3120::3
Public Scan
URL:
https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/news/ghanas-general-elections-violence-is-not-a-legitimate-election-strategy/
Submission: On July 20 via manual from SG — Scanned from NL
Submission: On July 20 via manual from SG — Scanned from NL
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
GET https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/
<form role="search" method="get" action="https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/" class="wp-block-search__button-only wp-block-search__searchfield-hidden wp-block-search__icon-button wp-block-search" data-wp-interactive="core/search"
data-wp-context="{"isSearchInputVisible":false,"inputId":"wp-block-search__input-2","ariaLabelExpanded":"Submit Search","ariaLabelCollapsed":"Expand search field"}"
data-wp-class--wp-block-search__searchfield-hidden="!context.isSearchInputVisible" data-wp-on-async--keydown="actions.handleSearchKeydown" data-wp-on-async--focusout="actions.handleSearchFocusout"><label
class="wp-block-search__label screen-reader-text" for="wp-block-search__input-2">Search</label>
<div class="wp-block-search__inside-wrapper "><input aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-search__input has-x-small-font-size" data-wp-bind--aria-hidden="!context.isSearchInputVisible" data-wp-bind--tabindex="state.tabindex"
id="wp-block-search__input-2" placeholder="Search" value="" type="search" name="s" required="" style="border-radius: 0px" tabindex="-1"><button aria-expanded="false"
class="wp-block-search__button has-text-color has-hazel-primary-color has-background has-base-background-color has-x-small-font-size has-icon wp-element-button" data-wp-bind--aria-controls="state.ariaControls"
data-wp-bind--aria-expanded="context.isSearchInputVisible" data-wp-bind--aria-label="state.ariaLabel" data-wp-bind--type="state.type" data-wp-on--click="actions.openSearchInput" style="border-radius: 0px"
aria-controls="wp-block-search__input-2" aria-label="Expand search field" type="button"><svg class="search-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24">
<path d="M13 5c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6 0 1.4.5 2.7 1.3 3.7l-3.8 3.8 1.1 1.1 3.8-3.8c1 .8 2.3 1.3 3.7 1.3 3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6S16.3 5 13 5zm0 10.5c-2.5 0-4.5-2-4.5-4.5s2-4.5 4.5-4.5 4.5 2 4.5 4.5-2 4.5-4.5 4.5z"></path>
</svg></button></div>
</form>Text Content
Skip to content * Annual Report 2023 * About the Foundation * News + Publications * Contact * Support us * Projects * Youth + Peace * Elections + Democracy * Multilateralism * Kofi Annan * Safeguarding a legacy * Support Us Search Youth + Peace YOUTH + PEACE EMPOWERING YOUTH, TO BUILD A PEACEFUL, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Learn more KOFI ANNAN CHANGEMAKERS An intergenerational dialogue for impact BRIDGES TO PEACE Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Uganda VOICES OF RECONCILIATION Using music to strengthen youth’s resilience to violence in Colombia EXTREMELY TOGETHER A global youth-led initiative that aims to empower young people to prevent violent extremism See more projects GLOBAL IMPACT Regions our Youth + Peace projects are active in include: * Colombia * Pakistan * Sahel * Somalia * Southeast Asia * Uganda Elections + Democracy ELECTIONS + DEMOCRACY TURNING BACK THE TIDE OF DEMOCRATIC EROSION Learn more LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN POLITICS (LEIP) Rebuilding trust in political leadership WOMEN AND YOUTH IN DEMOCRACY (WYDE) – ACCOUNTABILITY HUBS Young leaders strengthening accountability in Africa KOFI ANNAN NEXTGEN DEMOCRACY PRIZE Recognizing exceptional leadership in defending, renewing and promoting democracy ELECTORAL INTEGRITY INITIATIVE Addressing electoral challenges ELECTORAL VULNERABILITY INDEX Predicting election-related violence DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN MALAYSIA Supporting Malaysia in moving toward multi-party democracy See more projects GLOBAL IMPACT Regions our Elections + Democracy projects are active in include: * Ghana * Kenya * Malaysia * Nigeria * Sub-Saharan Africa Multilateralism MULTILATERALISM ADVOCATING FOR A FAIRER, MORE INCLUSIVE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM Learn more MULTILATERALISM AND DEMOCRACY Understanding how democratic leadership is essential to solving global challenges KOFI ANNAN COMMISSION ON FOOD SECURITY Reimagining Global Governance See more projects Kofi Annan KOFI ANNAN FOUNDER OF THE KOFI ANNAN FOUNDATION Learn more BIOGRAPHY SAFEGUARDING A LEGACY KOFI TIME: THE PODCAST QUOTES SPEECHES PUBLISHED WORKS KOFI ANNAN: COLLECTED PAPERS Support Us Youth + Peace YOUTH + PEACE EMPOWERING YOUTH, TO BUILD A PEACEFUL, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Learn more KOFI ANNAN CHANGEMAKERS An intergenerational dialogue for impact BRIDGES TO PEACE Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Uganda VOICES OF RECONCILIATION Using music to strengthen youth’s resilience to violence in Colombia EXTREMELY TOGETHER A global youth-led initiative that aims to empower young people to prevent violent extremism See more projects GLOBAL IMPACT Regions our Youth + Peace projects are active in include: * Colombia * Pakistan * Sahel * Somalia * Southeast Asia * Uganda Elections + Democracy ELECTIONS + DEMOCRACY TURNING BACK THE TIDE OF DEMOCRATIC EROSION Learn more LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE IN POLITICS (LEIP) Rebuilding trust in political leadership WOMEN AND YOUTH IN DEMOCRACY (WYDE) – ACCOUNTABILITY HUBS Young leaders strengthening accountability in Africa KOFI ANNAN NEXTGEN DEMOCRACY PRIZE Recognizing exceptional leadership in defending, renewing and promoting democracy ELECTORAL INTEGRITY INITIATIVE Addressing electoral challenges ELECTORAL VULNERABILITY INDEX Predicting election-related violence DEEPENING DEMOCRACY IN MALAYSIA Supporting Malaysia in moving toward multi-party democracy See more projects GLOBAL IMPACT Regions our Elections + Democracy projects are active in include: * Ghana * Kenya * Malaysia * Nigeria * Sub-Saharan Africa Multilateralism MULTILATERALISM ADVOCATING FOR A FAIRER, MORE INCLUSIVE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM Learn more MULTILATERALISM AND DEMOCRACY Understanding how democratic leadership is essential to solving global challenges KOFI ANNAN COMMISSION ON FOOD SECURITY Reimagining Global Governance See more projects Kofi Annan KOFI ANNAN FOUNDER OF THE KOFI ANNAN FOUNDATION Learn more BIOGRAPHY SAFEGUARDING A LEGACY KOFI TIME: THE PODCAST QUOTES SPEECHES PUBLISHED WORKS KOFI ANNAN: COLLECTED PAPERS Support Us Home News Ghana’s general elections: “Violence is not a legitimate election strategy” General News Defending Democracy, Electoral Integrity, Electoral Violence GHANA’S GENERAL ELECTIONS: “VIOLENCE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE ELECTION STRATEGY” 16 July 2024 4 min. read By Kofi Annan Foundation SHARE THIS POST * Share on Facebook * Share on X * Share on LinkedIn * Email this Page Under the aegis of the National Peace Council (NPC), Ghana’s political parties signed a code of conduct on vigilantism and election violence in July 2024 to mark the start of the election campaign season, and inaugurated a monitoring commission to oversee compliance. “Political parties have a major responsibility to the Nation to make sure that elections in this country do not upset its prized peace and stability,” stressed NPC Chairperson Ernest Adu Gyamfi at the signing ceremony in Accra. “Violence is not a legitimate election strategy.” Access the Code of Conduct The Code of Conduct Committee’s inaugural meeting and signing on 3 July 2024 in Accra, Ghana. A NEW COMMISSION TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS The representatives of the countries’ two main parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), currently in office, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in opposition, conceded that their youth wings had sometimes resorted to violence and intimidation in past elections, which was unacceptable. They welcomed the inauguration of the monitoring commission, which should help them keep their activists in line. > “Violence is not a legitimate election strategy.” > > Ernest Adu Gyamfi, National Peace Council Chairperson The monitoring commission, which includes not only representatives of the main parties, who will provide a kind of peer review, but also the NPC, the Election Commission, the Inspectorate General of Police and the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre, among others, will bring breaches of the code to the attention of the political parties and the NPC, which will be tasked with mediating any potential conflicts that may arise. The code ought to have a deterrence effect, and the commission will provide a means of addressing violations quickly. THE MAJORITY OF GHANAIANS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR A DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT Ghana is a stable, democratic country with a history of successful political transitions, a free press, an active civil society, and an independent judiciary, and has held eight free and fair elections since 1992. In the most recent Afrobarometer survey, 76% of Ghanaians expressed support for a democratic form of government, and 67% rejected military rule, which has been gaining ground in the region. That said, general elections have regularly been marred by a degree of violence, often perpetrated by party-linked vigilantes. Kofi Annan Foundation Senior Advisor Sébastien Brack presenting at the Code of Conduct inaugural meeting in Accra, Ghana on 3 July 2024. “At a time when democracy is in retreat, especially in West Africa, it is all the more important that Ghana remain a beacon of democracy,” stressed Sébastien Brack, the Kofi Annan Foundation’s representative at the signing ceremony. “Although he was a global statesman, Kofi Annan was proud to be Ghanian because Ghana is famous for its peace and democracy. Every election is a test of that reputation, but also an opportunity to reaffirm Ghanaians’ commitment to a system that has served them well.” > “…it is all the more important that Ghana remain a beacon of democracy.” > > Sébastien Brack, Kofi Annan Foundation Senior Advisor CITIZENS’ CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODY IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW Ghana has indeed experienced significant economic development since 1992, not least thanks to its stable, peaceful and democratic political system, That said, the December 2024 elections will take place against the backdrop of a debt crisis, public spending cuts, slow growth and rising poverty and unemployment. More worryingly, according to Afrobarometer, “citizens’ confidence in the election management body is at the lowest level recorded in two decades of surveys.” The signing ceremony was the first of a series of joint election-related activities the Kofi Annan Foundation is planning with the NPC. We will also hold a series of dialogues with electoral stakeholders, especially party youth groups, in Ghana’s six “geopolitical zones” in the coming months. This will lead up to the signature of a public pledge by the presidential candidates in the run-up to the elections to eschew any hate speech or condone any violence, and to respect the outcome of the elections, or take their grievances to the courts rather than the streets. Finally, the NPC and the KAF will convene a post-election roundtable in early 2025 to address some of the recurring problems that bedevil Ghana’s elections. Learn more about how we strengthen democracy in Ghana Join our mailing list to stay informed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main photo: A ballot box in Ghana’s 2020 election. Delali Adogla-Bessa / Shutterstock.com STAY UP TO DATE Join our Mailing list We send newsletters and event invitations about 5-6 times a year. You can also update your preferences to receive emails about specific topics. Subscribe now STAY UP TO DATE Join our Mailing list We send newsletters and event invitations about 5-6 times a year. You can also update your preferences to receive emails about specific topics. Subscribe now NEWS Jobs 2 July 2024 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE → Read now Elections and Democracy 2 July 2024 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: PROGRAMME OFFICER – DEMOCRACY AND MULTILATERALISM → Read now Youth Leadership 4 June 2024 INTRODUCING THE KOFI ANNAN CHANGEMAKERS 2024: AN INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE FOR IMPACT → Read now More news Kofi Annan Foundation P. O. B. 157 | 1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland +41 22 919 7520 Get in touch * Youth + Peace * Elections + Democracy * Multilateralism * Kofi Annan * Projects * News * Publications * About the Foundation * Multilateralism * Kofi Annan * Projects * News * Publications * About the Foundation * Safeguarding a Legacy * Work with us * Gender, Equality and Inclusion * Newsletter * Contact ↑ * Facebook * Instagram * X * LinkedIn * YouTube * Facebook * Instagram * X * LinkedIn * YouTube Support Us © 2024 Kofi Annan Foundation. All Rights Reserved. * Privacy Policy * Imprint