Asantehene calls for peaceful campaigns without hate speech ahead of Ghana's December Elections

As Ghana prepares for its general elections on December 7, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged political parties to prioritize policy discussions over divisive rhetoric.

Speaking during a visit from Kofi Akpaloo, the Liberal Party of Ghana's presidential candidate on Wednesday Nov 20, Otumfuo emphasized the need for peaceful campaigns, constructive dialogue, and national unity.

The revered king stressed that Ghana's democratic maturity should shine through in these elections, calling on all stakeholders to ensure peace and progress remain at the forefront. With a fatherly tone, Otumfuo expressed his well-wishes for Kofi Akpaloo.

“It appears my children are the ones contesting in the elections and yes, Kofi is one of them. So I will pray that everything goes well for him as well. I have seen his flyers in town. We pray for peace in the coming election. Ghana will continue to exist due to the power of God.

“Winning an election entails patience. I pray my son Kofi prevails, I know that once he wins, he will come here to visit. I also want to thank my in-laws for supporting him. All those in the team should all come together and help for peace to prevail”

Meanwhile, Kofi Akpaloo is advocating for a peaceful electoral process in Ghana by calling on the US Embassy to encourage European countries to impose visa restrictions on individuals who attempt to disrupt the upcoming polls. He's optimistic that this election will be more peaceful, citing the American Embassy's recent statement that anyone causing chaos will be denied a visa to travel outside the country.

Akpaloo shared that he spoke with the American ambassador, who agreed to request European counterparts to issue a similar statement, with the British High Commission likely to follow suit. This move aims to promote accountability and compel individuals to act responsibly, knowing they'll have "nowhere to hide."

Akpaloo emphasized the importance of fair elections. He urged the electoral commission to ensure a transparent process, eliminating the need for complaints. According to him, his party is working diligently to monitor results across the country.

“Looking at the way things are going, I think this election is going to be more peaceful. Recently, we all heard from the American Embassy that anybody who is going to cause chaos will be denied a Visa to travel outside the country.

“I spoke to the American ambassador as I was seated beside her to ask the European counterpart to also issue the same statement and she said yes, she is going to do that very soon, and she believes the British high commission is going to follow suit. When you have nowhere to hide, you will be compelled to do the right thing”.

“This country is for everyone, so if you win this election fantastic, if you don’t win, you come back the next time to contest. You can not impose yourself on anyone, but we are all asking the electoral commission to do what is necessary such that no one will have the need to complain. We are doing our best and everywhere in the country we are making sure to monitor our results,” he added.

Source: Lead News Online