Post- Electoral Security Threats
Internal security of a nation becomes a fundamental national priority by a government. Governments protect national identity and unity with a common destiny and tenacity of purpose. It is extremely understandable and responsible for a government to explore concrete steps to prudently and feasibly taken to maintain post – electoral security. The essence of providing national security after general elections is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and the total well – being of the people towards national development and cohesion.
Elections are important mechanisms in democratic and peace processes in providing citizens with an opportunity to choose freely their political leaders and allocate power peacefully. Elections are not avenues for war, conflicts and disagreements but a state of choosing leaders democratically. ” Elections are at the heart of democracy. When conducted with integrity, they allow citizens to have a voice in how and by whom they are governed ” – Kofi Annan.
Elections are not an end in themselves. Their purpose, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is to ascertain the will of the people. Elections confer legitimacy to govern and to peacefully resolve political competition. A genuine and credible election is ultimately one in which the outcome reflects the freely expressed choices of the people. It is however to be noted that when election results are not overwhelmingly accepted by political parties, it is expedient on the electoral stakeholders to use political dialogue and acceptable national institutions to seek redress instead of acts of ‘national insecurity’. Maintenance of national security is a shared responsibility by citizens and the state. The onus lies on every individual to contribute to safeguarding our national identity and destiny. Therefore, political stakeholders and more especially governments have the responsibility to painstakingly keep the security of the nation intact.
BUSACgh reminds Ghanaians of the wise saying of former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan which says that “Legitimacy is the crucial currency of government in our democratic age…….victory without legitimacy is no victory at all.” Let’s all address our electoral problems in a state that will not jeopardise the security of our nation. Ghana is a beacon of hope to the continent and beyond. Political stakeholders and national institutions must stand up to defend the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana to the latter. BUSACgh calls on the two main political parties in the country (NPP and NDC) to seek redress peacefully at the appropriate quarters to maintain our unity, destiny and peaceful co-existence!
David Wilson Asetena-Krah ,Executive Chairman & Founder ( BUSACgh )
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