New Voters’ register: No qualified Ghanaian should be disenfranchised – National House of Chiefs

PRESS STATEMENT

A CALL FOR CALM, PEACE AND UNITY

We are very concerned about the growing tension in our country, at a time when we are confronted with a lot of challenges – COVID-19 pandemic, CSM epidemic, flooding, joblessness, etc. that naturally require that we stick together and work towards finding the appropriate solutions.In the face of these challenges, what Ghanaians need is hope, not fear. But sadly, our airwaves are filled with intimidation, and threats of anarchy, mayhem, war…. Our political leaders appear to be more concerned about wining power, than the development needs and the happiness of our people.Central to the escalating tension is the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters’ register. Unfortunately, the EC failed to honour invitations to the National House of Chiefs, when our traditional leaders wanted the opportunity to promote dialogue in the interest of peaceWe want to call on the EC to make peaceful conduct of this year’s general elections its primary objective. It would require, among others, that no qualified Ghanaian is disenfranchised, and that the elections are free and fair. We all have to remember that power is not exercised in a vacuum, and so it would be naive of anyone to think that a constitutionally created “independent body has unbridled power. That cannot be the intention of the framers of our constitution.We humbly ask for sober reflection, an honest evaluation of our progress as a nation over the past 63 years, and a recommitment by all Ghanaians to the ideals that inspired our founding fathers. We need to give substance to their claim that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.At this time when unimaginable atrocities are being visited on the black man in various parts of the world, we need to work together to strengthen the peace, and create harmonious living conditions at home, so that xenophobic isolation abroad would not be preferred by our people.As chiefs, we have the responsibility, and the duty, to speak objectively on national issues, and in defense of the national interest. So, at this crucial time, we owe a sacred duty to our people to remind all of us about the pledge to be faithful and loyal to Ghana, my motherland”. That is whywe are asking all Ghanaians to subordinate individual interest and political party loyalty to thenational desire for peace, unity and development.God bless the motherland.Signed: Togbe Afede XIV Signed: Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII