Don’t turn Akwatia by-election into a battlefield – CSOs

Two leading civil society organisations, the Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-Ghana) and the Democratic Credentials Network (DCN), have raised concern over the potential for violence in the ongoing Akwatia by-election, urging political tolerance and strict adherence to democratic norms.

In a joint statement issued in Accra on Tuesday (2 September), the groups said Ghana’s by-elections have historically been marred by intimidation, vigilantism and violent clashes, warning that the Akwatia polls must not follow the same path.

“By-elections generally in Ghana turn out to be chaotic with intimidation, brutal attacks on political opponents, and vigilantism taking centre stage. These acts of violence are in stark contrast to the country’s democratic credentials,” the statement said.

The CSOs condemned the circulation of “war songs” by some political actors on social and mainstream media ahead of the election, describing such actions as unacceptable infringements on democratic values.

They outlined five key recommendations to ensure a peaceful contest, including:

  • Respecting the rights of citizens to support their preferred political party or candidate;
  • Ensuring strict compliance with electoral guidelines by all stakeholders;
  • Preventing the transportation of vigilante groups into the constituency;
  • Security personnel being properly dressed and identifiable with name tags;
  • Encouraging aggrieved parties to use dialogue to resolve grievances rather than resorting to violence.

The statement was signed by Richard Kasu, Executive Director of CFF-Ghana, and Felix Best Agorvo, Senior Programmes Officer in charge of Electoral Integrity, Peace and Security at DCN.

With tensions already heightened ahead of the by-election, the CSOs emphasised the need for restraint, urging political parties, security agencies, the Electoral Commission, and citizens to work together to protect Ghana’s democratic reputation.

The post Don’t turn Akwatia by-election into a battlefield – CSOs appeared first on The Herald ghana.

Read More

  • Related Posts

    ZEC closes window for presidential nomination forms

    The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has officially closed the window for presidential hopefuls to collect nomination formsRead More

    Two police officers, train drivers arrested in Songwe over fertilizer theft

    Seven people, among them two police officers and train drivers, have been arrested in Songwe Region in connection with the theft of fertilizer worth more than Sh45 millionRead More

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Business & Economy

    Nigeria spends $120 per capita on healthcare, government contributes only $30 – Minister 

    Average price of 5kg cooking gas falls to N8,243.79 in July 2025 – NBS 

    Enugu state Smart Green Schools to commence full academic activities September 22 – ENSUBEB 

    Berger Paints vs Meyer Paints: Which stock offers better value for investors now? 

    Opay extends N1.2 billion 10-year scholarship fund to NSU Keffi 

    NNPCL, TotalEnergies, SAPETRO seal new PSC for deepwater licences in Nigeria 

    Airtel sets new denominator for voting rights calculation, updates shareholders in September 

    Tantalizers Plc appoints veteran Filmmaker, Tade Ogidan, as Board director  

    NNPC, TotalEnergies sign PSC agreement for deepwater blocks

    NNPC, TotalEnergies sign PSC agreement for deepwater blocks

    Ripple unlocks a billion XRP in bold move as price stays steady 

    How to apply for Oman 10-year golden residency 

    Fidelity Bank’s recapitalization paves way for growth, shareholding expansion 

    Jaiz Bank rebrands: Repositioning as Nigeria’s leading financial inclusion institution

    Why Nigerian banks should now embrace Basel III

    CNG hits N380/SCM in Lagos, Abuja as uniform pricing takes effect nationwide 

    FG confirms Nigerian embassies are struggling with unpaid rent, salary arrears, others

    FG targets 44million health insurance enrollees by 2030 to cut out-of-pocket spending 

    NIDCOM: $600 million monthly diaspora remittances signal success of CBN reforms in Nigeria 

    CBN’s $2 billion FX Forwards Audit: What really happened, why it matters and who books the losses? 

    Exchange rate: Forex traders say Chinese traders now collecting naira instead of dollars  

    The Getaway: Abuja’s best-kept secret where nature meets royal luxury

    MDGIF: Powering Nigeria’s Renewed Gas Infrastructure Drive

    Chevron Shines at Gbaramatu Voice International Anniversary awards

    NIHOTOUR DG Commends NANTA for Effective Self-regulation

    Sub-regional Insurers to Deliberate on Climate Change at WAICA

    Customs Commission Advanced Cargo Screening X-ray Machine at SAHCOL

    Aradel Renews Contractual Commitment to Supply Gas to NLNG 

    Report: Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure Projects Diminishing Agricultural Land

    ARADEL trades N5.3 billion as All-Share Index closes in red on September 1 

    Nigeria’s private sector growth hits 19-month high as demand surges and inflation eases 

    SEC Nigeria launches new website to boost transparency and investor safety 

    Africa imports close to $50 billion worth of food annually- official

    Africa imports close to $50 billion worth of food annually- official

    Payment App, Vban launches to help Africa’s global workforce get paid easier, faster, and without borders

    Titan Trust Bank ceases operations in Nigeria as Union Bank finalizes takeover 

    DMO opens September 2025 FGN savings bonds, rates peak at 16.541% 

    Heirs’ Technologies industry report call for bold investments to unlock Africa’s $700 billion digital economy by 2030