Akufo-Addo champions peaceful politicking in Independence Day speech

President Nana Akufo-Addo has continued his tough-talking campaign to rid Ghana of politically related violence.

The President in his speech on the 62nd Independence anniversary appealed to the two main political parties, New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, to pursue decorum in their discourse.

He noted that competitive politics would always thrive on debates and heated arguments, “sometimes with raised voices.”

Akufo-Addo said the “leaders of the political parties, however, have a great responsibility to set the tone for political discourse.”

“…in the midst of those raised voices, there must be mutual respect,” he told the gathering at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, Wednesday, March 6.

Elections must be violent free

Speaking on electoral related violence, Akufo-Addo loathed the culture of young men being deployed to intimidate the opposing party.

“There should be no room for violence in this process [elections],” he said adding that “success should not be measured by how many young people can be marshalled to disrupt elections or how many broken bones we can count.”

The President also noted that he is hopeful the “impending dialogue” between the two main political parties the NPP and the NDC on ending electoral related violence will succeed.

He reiterated comments he made in his State of the Address last month that he would spare no effort in ensuring the culture of violence in elections ends; including imitating legislation into the matter.

NPP and NDC dialogue

On Tuesday, the President responded to a letter the National Chairman of the opposition NDC wrote him concerning the dialogue.

Akufo-Addo in his response dismissed most concerns the NDC Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo raised, causing some analysts to question his commitments to ending the menace.

The President, for instance, noted that he sees no reason why other political parties should be invited to the said deliberations.

He also dismissed calls for civil society organisations and the media to be invited; arguing that such groups do not engage in electoral violence.

NDC’s response

The Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC in an interview with Joy FM expressed disappointment in Akufo-Addo’s response to their Chairman.

credit: myjoyonline.com