National Peace Council launches Election Situation Room in partnership with WANEP

An Election Situation Room (ESR), to monitor election activities has been launched by National Peace Council (NPC) in partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Accra yesterday.

The ESR, supported by the European Union, USAID, and governments of Sweden, Austria, and the United Kingdom, is part of a broader project to mitigate electoral violence in 12 West African countries.

The ESR is equipped to monitor, analyze, and respond to potential threats to election peace.

Rev. Dr Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman, NPC, called on Ghanaians to ensure peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace during the electoral process.

According to him, since May 2024, NPC and WANEP, in partnership with ECOWAS and other international bodies, have been working through the National and Regional Election Response Groups.

” These groups include representatives from state and non-state institutions, tasked with addressing threats of violence before, during, and after the elections,” he said.

Rev. Adu-Gyamfi, ESR would focus on monitoring high-risk areas across 11 regions identified through earlier threat assessments, adding that, More than 510 observers, including 319 from WANEP and 191 from the NPC, have been deployed to monitor 276 high-risk constituencies.

He said, “Equipped with a checklist and technology, including a Geospatial Information System, these observers will ensure real-time reporting of any incidents”

Rev. Dr. Adu-Gyamfi urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to continue engaging with political parties, civil society, and the public to build trust and transparency.

He encouraged the National Election Security Taskforce to remain professional, impartial, and committed to ensuring public safety during the elections.

The Chairman stressed the role of the media in promoting peace calling on journalists and media houses to adhere to ethical standards and avoid publishing inflammatory content that could incite tensions.

He advised the public to verify information before sharing it on social media to prevent the spread of misinformation and fake news.

“The public is encouraged to visit the ESR and support efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process,” he said.

Rev. Dr. Adu-Gyamfi appealed to political parties and candidates to uphold the principles of the Peace Pact they signed, urging tolerance and mutual respect throughout the process.

Mrs Joana Adzoa Opare, WANEP, urged all stakeholders to act responsibly and called on political actors to respect the electoral code of conduct.

She also urged the media to avoid spreading fake news or inciting tensions, “The media must uphold ethical journalism and avoid spreading information that could fuel tensions”.