By Olivia Ambrose, JKNewsMedia Intern
CIVIL SOCIETY Organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders have urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intensify efforts in ensuring Ghana’s 7 December 2024 General Elections remain peaceful and credible.
During discussions with the ECOWAS Long-Term Observation Mission, groups including the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the National Media Commission (NMC), and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), stressed the need for ECOWAS’ preventive diplomacy to foster consensus among political actors.
They emphasised engaging the ruling NPP and opposition NDC to prioritise national interest over partisan differences.
Concerns were raised about low public trust in institutions, misinformation, vigilantism, and political interference in media content.
The NDC’s hesitation to sign the National Peace Council’s pre-election agreement highlighted tensions.
However, assurances were given that all stakeholders would commit to the Accord by 28 November.
The stakeholders also praised NMC’s Ghana Media Watch, a digital platform developed to monitor election activities and acknowledged the GJA’s efforts to train journalists on responsible reporting during the elections.
