The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama, has expressed support for the concerns raised by the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, regarding the decision not to sign peace pacts ahead of elections.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Thursday, August 15, Mr. Asiedu Nketia questioned the effectiveness of these peace agreements, pointing out that previous pacts had failed to produce meaningful outcomes. He hinted that the NDC might refrain from signing the peace pact this year, stating, “Signing a peace declaration doesn’t mean anything to the party, as previous pacts have not yielded any real results.”
In response to these concerns, the National Peace Council acknowledged the NDC’s position and pledged to engage with the party to address them. However, the governing party condemned Asiedu Nketia’s remarks.
During a media encounter in Ho, the capital of the Volta Region, on Friday, August 16, Mr. Mahama clarified that the party has not yet made an official decision on whether to sign the peace pact. He emphasized that while the Chairman’s concerns are valid, they do not reflect a final decision by the NDC.
“I read the statement made by our Chairman [Asiedu Nketia] this morning, and even though it is not a decision that we have sat and taken, I can understand the position he’s coming from,” Mahama said. He explained that Asiedu Nketia’s concerns revolve around the need for justice and actions beyond the symbolic signing of a peace pact.
Mahama criticized the practice of merely signing peace pacts without addressing the underlying issues that threaten peace. He cited past incidents where violence occurred despite such agreements, with no subsequent investigations or compensations for the victims.
“I do think that those who normally clamour about signing peace pacts, getting us to go to Movenpick Hotel, serve small chops and drinks, and then think that just by signing that paper, everything is going to be okay—he’s just telling them that everything will not be okay unless we go farther than just the signature on the peace pact,” Mahama concluded.
source: www.kumasimail.com
