Traditional Rulers Appeal For Unity After Court Verdict

Three traditional rulers have added their voices to calls on Ghanaians to remain united after the verdict on the ongoing presidential election petition is pronounced by the Supreme Court. According to them, as crucial as the verdict of the court may seem to the unity of the nation, all political parties must work to ensure that the peace and unity of the nation was maintained, even after the ruling. The Paramount chiefs of the Essikado Traditional Area in the Western Region and the Eguafo Traditional Area in the Central Region, Nana Kobina Nketsia 1V and Nana Kwamina Ansah, respectively, as well as the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, made their pleas in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic. Speaking to Kwame Asiedu Marfo in Essikado, Nana Nketsia called on Ghanaians to go into politics of unity and oneness. He said in united politics, there were victors and no vanquished, pointing out that in any real African thinking, a brother raised a brother who was on the ground. According to him, any party that would be favoured by the Supreme Court ruling had the onerous responsibility of enlivening the spirit of the unfavoured party. Nana Nketsia said it was only in the peace �derived from the inner strength of our unity, but not an imposed peace, can we find some of the solutions that could help us develop as a people�. He said although party politics entailed an amount of divisiveness, there was the need for Ghanaians to rise above that and ensure the unity of the nation. From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that Nana Ansah called for jointly organised rallies by the political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, to declare their commitment to accept the court verdict. �The political parties must show commitment to the peace of this nation. They must let their followers know and understand that the peace and unity of this nation is the most paramount,� he stated. Nana Ansah indicated that Ghanaians had worked hard enough to bring democracy and development thus far and all must work to ensure that nothing was done to derail that. He said if Ghana was to thrive and achieve its socio-economic goals, the shining light of democracy that the country could boast should be uplifted by all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political persuasion. Nana Konadu Agyeman reports from Kyebi that Osagyefo Ofori Panin said the acceptance of the court ruling would help sustain and enhance the peace and unity prevailing in the country. �We are the beacon of democracy in Africa, as we have not engaged in any major conflict in recent times, and as far as politics and elections are concerned, the ruling should not trigger any fight. �Ghanaians should strive not to resort to violence, since we are one people who have one common destiny that must be protected and promoted at all cost,� the Okyenhene stressed. He noted that the non-clarity of electoral results after the December 2012 polls had caused the country to find itself in an uncomfortable position. �By our Constitution, if any political party feels cheated, it has the right to go to court to seek redress, but under no circumstance should such action turn into violence,� he said. Osagyefo Ofori Panin expressed satisfaction with the personal promises made by President John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the NPP, to accept the court�s ruling. He was, therefore, optimistic that their followers would also respect and accept the ruling, saying, �One thing I know for sure is that elections will never be the same again in Ghana.�