Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced that the party will not sign any peace declaration as the nation approaches the upcoming elections.

During an appearance on Joy News’ PM Express, he expressed doubts regarding the effectiveness of such agreements, referencing past experiences where similar pacts failed to produce meaningful outcomes.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia emphasized that preventing electoral violence necessitates proactive measures rather than mere symbolic gestures.

“If you allow violence to brew, it will happen whether you sign a declaration or not,” He stated.

He has been vocal about the need to dismantle the underlying factors that could lead to a violent election, highlighting that addressing these issues should take precedence over signing agreements after tensions have escalated.

He criticized the tendency to focus on peace declarations only when conflicts arise, urging authorities to tackle the root causes of potential violence before they escalate.

“At any stage when something is happening, I call on those who, in the future, will call us to sign a declaration to speak up and stop it from happening,” he remarked, warning against superficial solutions like organizing peace events or signing declarations without addressing the core issues.

Asiedu Nketia pointed out that despite the involvement of various bodies, including the Council of State and the Peace Council, previous peace declarations did not prevent violence in the 2020 elections. He reiterated that the focus should be on the foundational elements that contribute to electoral unrest.