Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, running mate of the Public Majority rule Congress (NDC), has asked the Discretionary Commission (EC) to focus on the lead of free, fair, and straightforward races in the country.
Talking during a graciousness approach the Head of Akyem Tafo, Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV, as a feature of her one-day visit through the Abuakwa North electorate in the Eastern District, she focused on the significance of safeguarding the trustworthiness and validity of Ghana’s electing cycle.
She noticed how the equitable finished restricted enlistment and elector move practices were damaged by pockets of brutality the nation over, and expressed that it was essential the EC sets up measures to forestall a rehash of such episodes in the impending general races.
“Ghana’s majority rules system has been a jealousy of numerous nations because of its set of experiences of arranging free and fair races,” she said, adding “Yet the brutality describing our appointment of late is extremely stressing.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also urged traditional leaders to take keen interest in how Ghana’s electoral system is managed and speak out when necessary to ensure violence-free elections.
She emphasised the need for the EC to be a fair referee by implementing processes without bias towards any political party.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s comments come ahead of Ghana’s crucial December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections, which are expected to be closely contested between the opposition NDC and the ruling New Patriotic Party.
The National Democratic Congress, with Professor Opoku-Agyemang, an astute academician, as its running mate, is seeking to unseat the incumbent government, which has been criticized for mismanaging the economy and accumulating a national debt of GH¢610 billion ($52.4 billion) by the end of 2023.
Over the past seven years, Ghana’s economy has also struggled with rising youth unemployment, mounting inflation, and a rapid depreciation of the cedi with one dollar currently going for about GH¢15.3.
These issues have led to skyrocketing prices of petroleum products and basic food, making it even harder for many Ghanaians to make ends meet.
The high cost of living has become unsustainable, fueling labour unrest as people struggle to maintain their purchasing power. As a result, the country’s economic woes continue to worsen.
For his part, Chief of Akyem Tafo Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV praised Professor Opoku-Agyemang for her academic credentials and also urged the EC to be fair in its engagements with all political parties.
Additionally, he lamented the decline of the country’s agricultural sector, particularly the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana in the eastern region, and urged the next NDC administration to revitalize the sector if elected.
