Key Points
- Prof. Kwesi Aning believes 2024 elections will be peaceful.
- Both Mahama and Bawumia are committed to maintaining peace.
- Addressing trust deficits in key institutions is crucial for democracy.
Both of the main presidential contenders, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have demonstrated a commitment to peace, according to security consultant Prof. Kwesi Aning, who has dismissed worries about possible violence in the 2024 elections.
Prof. Aning dismisses violence concerns ahead of 2024 elections
Although Aning acknowledged the existence of political radicalism among both parties, he claimed that Mahama and Bawumia’s leadership had continuously shown via their words and deeds that they intended to maintain peace. On Saturday, Nov. 30, Aning said in an interview on JoyNews that the candidates’ actions over the years had led to a legitimate perception that they would not hurt any Ghanaian for political reasons.
“Those who say there will be more violence have been challenged by me. In the past 24 months, neither Mahama nor Dr. Bawumia have done anything that can be interpreted as encouraging violence,” he stated.
British High Commissioner Harriet Thompson recently expressed concerns that the 2024 elections would not be as peaceful as past ones, to which Aning responded.
The security consultant disagreed, stating that there would be no less tranquilly in 2024. Both leaders have demonstrated that they are peaceful people, and their deeds are important in holding their parties accountable.
Political extremists may exist, but leadership matters, says Aning
He recognised that there are fanatics in both parties who may turn to illegal means to gain power, but he underlined how important it is for leaders to condemn and stop such actions.
“Discover the nation and speak with regular folks. They don’t want to fight or ruin their lives for political reasons, you’ll discover,” he remarked.
According to recent Afrobarometer studies, Aning also cited systemic issues, such as the public’s mistrust of important institutions including the courts and the Electoral Commission (EC). He emphasised that resolving these challenges of trust is crucial to preserving public trust in the political process.
