Election Petition Verdict: NDC, NPP Commit To Peace

The two major political parties in the country have pledged their commitment to peace during and after judgement on the presidential election petition has been given on August 29, 2013. The chairpersons of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, respectively, made the strong declaration after their first-ever closed-door meeting with the National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, in Accra yesterday. The meeting was called to discuss ways of ensuring peace and tranquillity after the August 29 verdict on the petition by the Supreme Court. Beaming with smiles and confidence when he came out of the office of the security boss, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey told anxious journalists, �God loves Ghana and He will continue to give us the opportunity to lift our country.� He said people in charge of security had recognised the collective roles everyone, particularly the political parties, had played and continued to play in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the country. �We the leaders will be the ones to handle any disappointments and appointments when the election petition ruling is declared on August 29,� he said. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the leadership of both parties were committed to development and peace and how �we can improve the lives of our people�. He said the party leadership and national security were on the ground and had identified the hot spots and called on the media to support the peace campaign. �Rwanda was a champion of free media but what it cost that country was great. We don�t want to reach the level of Rwanda in Ghana,� he said. On the level of commitment to peace by the leadership of the two parties, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the two leaders, President John Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had, on many occasions, pledged their commitment to peace at all times, adding that it was with that recognition that �we are seeking redress in the law courts�. �Additionally, the judges have so far given us all the indications that they are up to the task and will be impartial in their decisions,� he said. For his part, Dr Adjei said, �We will not have any of our members engaged in any act to disturb the peace we enjoy now.� He said in any political setting, there were what he called hawks and doves, but noted that anybody who took the law into his or her own hands to destabilise the country would be owned up. He said the two leaders had agreed at the meeting that �we are one and we must come together as one. Let all of us resolve to bring the political tension down. Let�s send the message to all, particularly those who may want to inflame passions, that there is no space for them�.