As tension mounts in the final days to election 2020 in the country, the Senior Pastor of Living Streams Baptist Church in Accra, Rev. Daniel Yirenkyi-Larbi has added his voice to the calls for calm to ensure a peaceful and successful election.
He appealed to Ghanaians to exercise their franchise without any form of malice which will tarnish the good imagine Ghana has maintained as a peaceful country since it signed onto a multiparty democracy years ago.
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Speaking after a peace walk by leaders and members of the church to sensitise Ghanaians ahead of the polls at Dome-Kwabenya, the most populous constituency in the country, he reminded electorates that since multiparty democracy was not forced on them, it is important to elect a President without instigating chaos or any form of act which can jeopardize the future of many young people like other countries.
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He emphasized that, since everyone cannot be in one party per our system, the action of voters should not breed violence or war due to disagreements. He said, “we should all express our views as to how the country is to governed, we have learnt it, we have seen it from other countries that elections resulted in wars and brought about a whole lot of pains and sufferings”.
Rev. Yirenkyi continued by indicating that, even though everyone desires development, it can only take place in the atmosphere of peace, hence the need to respect each other’s decision to foil any form of turmoil which will largely affect women and children.
The move by Living Streams Baptist Church to organize the peace campaign, was to contribute to the promotion and sensitization of Ghanaians toward a peaceful election. “I believe that, with the little effort, the message has gone down very well with all those we came in contact with and it will help us to avert violence or war”, he said.
Over 17 million people registered in the compilation of the new voters register this year as against the over 15 million which was recorded in 2016.
Some new polling stations were also added to the over 28,000 existing stations in 2016, rising to about 33, 000 for this year’s election.
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The Head Pastor continued to plead with those who have intentions to perpetuate mayhem, to rescind their decision to avoid a situation which can plunge the country into calamity.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service have released all the hotspots in the country, with Ashanti Region leading with 635 hotspots, followed by Central Region with 537, and the lowest being Northeast Region with 60.
Some of the church members expressed their gratitude to the leadership of the church for organizing the peace campaign, which they believe can avert any unforeseen violence. “If someone has the thought of causing havoc, during or after the election, he or she will think twice for the sake of children and women involved”, one of the church members said.
Out of the 17 political Parties which showed interest to contest the incumbent, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 5 were disqualified, while 12 of the aspirants sailed through successfully with the Electoral Commission’s eligibility requirements to contest in Monday’s general elections.
Meanwhile, 275 Parliamentary candidates will also be elected as Legislators the same day as enshrined in the constitution to commence the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
In winding up, Rev. Yirenkyi-Larbi advised the public to accept the result in good faith when it is officially announced by the Electoral Commission.
“May God bless our country Ghana, God has seen us through in the past, and this year too, He will. God bless our homeland Ghana”, he concluded.
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