It is entirely appropriate, that the National Peace Council, and other civil society groups, and opinion leaders, should appeal to politicians and political parties, to ensure that the November presidential and parliamentary elections are free, fair and peaceful.
The question however is: As a people, would it not also be prudent to pressurise our ruling elites, to, as a matter of urgency, amend all the electoral laws governing the conduct of elections in Ghana - and make all electoral offences punishable by mandatory jail sentences?
Tougher sentencing regimes for electoral malpractices will make politicians and political parties less inclined to register minors and foreigners, hire the services of thugs to snatch ballot boxes, and fearful of compromising Electoral Commission officials when it matters most - on polling day during elections.
It is such measures that are likely to lead to free and fair elections in our homeland Ghana. Mere platitudes, will not produce free and fair elections, for Ghanaians, ever, alas.
Instead of endless platitudinous appeals, to cynical and hard-of-hearing politicians, if society chooses to wield the big stick - minimum mandatory five-year prison sentences, and maximum ten-year prison sentences, for all offenders engaging in electoral malpractices - it will definitely help ensure free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections, which will actually reflect the true will of Ghanaian voters: which is an absolute must this November.
How many underage youth, and foreigners, will accept money from political parties, and allow themselves to be registered by them as voters, if they are made aware by the media, of the fact that if they do so and attempt to vote, and are found out after any objections lodged against them, are successful, it will definitely land them in jail for at least five years?
How many "macho men" will take money from individual politicians, and political parties, to go and snatch ballot boxes at polling stations, if they know that once they are caught, they will end up in prison for at least five years after being swiftly tried in court, following their apprehension by the security agencies?
And how many Electoral Commission officials - at polling stations, constituency collation centres, and at regional and national levels - will be willing to be compromised by individual politicians, and political parties, if they knew that doing so will lead to their imprisonment for at least five years, once they are found out?
Parliament exists to pass laws - including laws fashioned to solve specific societal problems. We have now reached a point in our history when the outcomes of all elections in Ghana ought to reflect the true will of voters - as a matter of course.
That will ensure continued stability in our country and help deepen the roots of Ghanaian democracy yet further - and enhance Ghana's global reputation as a haven of peace and stability in sub-Saharan Africa.
The time has therefore now come for Parliament to amend all the laws and regulations governing the conduct of elections in Ghana - and prescribe mandatory prison sentences of a minimum of five years and maximum of ten years for such offences. Above all, electoral offences must be made non-bailable offences - and suspects must always be tried swiftly after they are apprehended.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment