As President Mills Reaffirms His Pledge To Preside Over Peaceful Elections

News Desk Report

Even though, it has never been in doubt that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is committed to protecting the peace of this country, His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills has been persistent in assuring Ghanaians of a peaceful election this year.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Mills addressing the nation’s labour force at this year’s May Day celebration in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, reaffirms that Ghana will remain peaceful before, during and after the upcoming December 07, 2012 general elections, indicating that, those who will attempt to push the country into a state of anarchy will not be spared. “As the President of the Republic of Ghana, I will take all necessary constitutional steps to ensure the conduct of a Free, Fair, and Transparent Elections in 2012”, he stated. “The laws of the land will not be a respecter of status, and will be made to deal decisively with any person or group of persons who attempt to push the country into a state of anarchy”, President Mills warns.

“I am more than confident that with the gains that have been chalked on the labour-front, Organised Labour will not sit idly by, and allow the inordinate desire of certain persons to destroy our dear Motherland. Together, we shall protect the peace of this dear country of ours”; he added.

According to the President, the theme: “Election 2012: The Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful and Fair Elections” chosen for this year’s May Day celebration by Organized Labour, clearly demonstrates Labour’s anxiety and willingness to contribute to peaceful, free and fair elections in December 2012. “This is a source of great encouragement to me, since I am determined, with the help of God, to do everything possible to make sure that it is so”, he assured the gathering. President Mills, however, used the occasion to express his deepest of appreciation to Organized Labour for its cooperation in maintaining the peace of the country, having exhibited a higher sense of maturity, and restraint, in the pursuit of their rights of working for people and also chronicled achievements chalked by his administration in protection of the rights of workers. According him, government has taken a number of important steps in the past three years, to enhance workers interests within the framework of the Tripartitism.

He told workers that, in the year 2011 alone, we ratified the Convention on Minimum Age, 1973 (No. 138) which prohibits Child Labour: the Tripartite Consultation Convention, 1976 (No. 144) which encourages cooperation among Government, Employers and Employees, as well as, the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), which prohibits children from undertaking hazardous work and assure them that promotion of decent work and enhancing social protection will continue to be very high on the development agenda of his government. It would be recalled that members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) including their flagbearer, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in their desperation to come to power, have made serious inflammatory statements to the extent of the Assin North MP, Kennedy Agyapong on his radio station, OMAN FM weeks ago, declaring war on Ghana, because his party wants power at all cost. The above and many other inciting statements coming from the NPP have necessitated the President and the various security agencies to state their avowed stance to deal with any person or group of persons that will attempt to push the country into a state of disorder.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, somewhere last week addressing the media during the visit of the Minister of the Interior, Hon. Aboah, stated emphatically, that the police will deal decisively with those who will breach any law of the country, before, during and after the general elections.

According to the IGP, all Commanders at the Regional, Divisional, District and Unit levels are well-informed of their responsibilities, and have been directed to be conscious of the service’s professional approach to law enforcement before, during and after the elections, urging all Ghanaians to respect and use the existing police structures in addressing all grievances.

President Mills, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has once again spoken, stressing his commitment to ensuring peace before, during and after the general elections, and Akufo-Addo and his NPP should not attempt to take the peace of this country for granted because, he will not be spared as the President has indicated and continues to drum home.