Peace Accord Reached Between NPP and NDC for Bawku Area Ahead of 2024 Elections

In a significant move towards fostering peace and stability, the leadership of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have jointly pledged to ensure tranquility before, during, and after the 2024 elections in the Bawku area.

The agreement encompasses all six constituencies within the region, namely Pusiga, Bawku Central, Garu, Tempane, Binduri, and Zebilla. Following a two-day engagement session facilitated by the Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA) and supported by funding from the European Union (EU) through COGINTA-Ghana, representatives from both parties consolidated strategies for action towards maintaining peace in the region.

A key highlight of the accord is the organization of a joint peace walk through the principal streets of Bawku, with the backing of security agencies. Both parties have also committed to refraining from inciting rhetoric against each other and ensuring the safety of polling agents across all six constituencies.

Addressing concerns over the upcoming voter registration exercise, the parties have urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to deploy additional biometric registration kits in strategic locations to facilitate the registration process effectively. They emphasized the need for inclusivity to ensure that all eligible voters are duly registered.

Ali Anankpieng, the Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, emphasized the pivotal role of political parties in de-escalating tensions in the Bawku area. He urged both NPP and NDC to discourage their supporters from using inflammatory language on social media and during campaigns.

Peter Asaal, the Executive Director of BEWDA, expressed optimism regarding the agreed-upon activities, believing they will significantly contribute to maintaining peace throughout the electoral process and beyond.

With the scheduled voter registration exercise set to commence from May 7 to May 27, 2024, stakeholders, including traditional authorities, Members of Parliament, parliamentary candidates, and other community leaders, have been called upon to support the implementation of the peace agreement for the collective benefit of the Bawku area.