The opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) youth wing in the Northern Region, known as Khandaha, is advocating peace and justice ahead of the December 7 polls.
The group is displeased with civil society organizations and religious bodies exclusion of justice from their peace advocacy before, during and after the December polls.
The group’s Chairman, Alhassan Mohammed, alias Ghana, in a statement copied Citi News said a free, fair and transparent elections will guarantee peace and justice well meaning Ghanaians are yearning for.
He stressed that, without justice, calls for peaceful elections could be an exercise in futility.
Alhassan Mohammed alias Ghana, recalled the outcome of the NPP’s 2012 landmark election petition and concluded that such history would not repeat itself.
He therefore impressed upon the Electoral Commission (EC) to demonstrate its neutrality throughout processes leading to the December 7 polls.
Below is the full statement:
PRESS RELEASE
Mr Chairman, My fellow party representatives, Ladies and gentlemen of the media. We have invited you here to share our opinion with on the need to clamour more for justice rather than peace as we match into the 2016 presidential and parliamentary general elections
Violence and peace are two and opposite ways with greater effect on building a society but we can’t attain peace without Justice?
THEY ARE CALLING FOR PEACE BUT NOT CALLING FOR JUSTICE
The proliferation of selective justice, divide and rule intolerance produces most serious negative social consequences.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we all know peace by contrast, promote social positive consequences and allow the achievement of real progress. Therefore we should act within what is possible, by first of all attaining justice even where it seems difficult and impracticable.
Mr Chairman, We are all aware of numerious calls by various groupings, Such as Religious leaders, Civil sociaty organisations ( C. S.O’s), Non governmental organizations ( NGO’s) and many other stake holders calling for peace before, during and after the 2016 general elections. In this regard, The KANDAHAD youth group and we believe the New patriotic Party (NPP) in the northern region take into serious consideration, this call for peace.
However, We the KHANDAHAD youth group want to state infactically that much as we are all calling for peace,there should be the pursuit for justice peace and peace will automatically follow.
Further more, Ghanaians would bear witness that after the 2012 general elections, One party felt cheated as a result we had an election petition to seek justice in the law court, Only to realize that the final verdict was more on merits of peace and not on justice,
Mr Chairman, Ladies and gentlemen of the media, fellow Ghanaians; The reason why we of KHANDAHAD are calling for justice before peace is that, some of the peace campaigners appear to be political party affialates who are not genuine. Notable of some of these people are
1.EMMANUEL BOMBANDE
BEFORE 2012 ELECTIONS
The Executive director of west africa network for peacebuilding
AFTER 2012 ELECTIONS
Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
2. DR CLEMENT APAAK
BEFORE 2012 ELECTIONS
Executive director for Forum for governance and justice
AFTER 2012 ELECTIONS
Presidential Staffer
3. DANIEL BATIDAM
BEFORE 2012 ELECTIONS
African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption
AFTER 2012 ELECTIONS
Governance And Corruption Adviser To The President
4. NANA OYE LITHUR
BEFORE 2012 ELECTIONS.
Human Rights Advocacy For Gender
AFTER 2012 ELECTIONS;
Gender, Children And Social Protection Minister
Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen. KHANDAHAD is appealing to various religious bodies, civil society organizations, non governmental organizations, judiciary service, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to campaign for justice towards the coming 2016 general elections to safeguard our democracy.
Lastly, KHANDAHAD want to ask whether Ghana really needs peace without justice.
If the answer is No, then lets look for JUSTICE first. Lets not cry for peace without crying for justice.
CHAIRMAN SECRETARY
Ghana Alhassan Abdul Hack
0244140622 0546221212
[21:09, 9/18/2016] +233 20 825 4494
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