Governance expert Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah has voiced his frustration over President Akufo-Addo’s failure to act on the recommendations from Justice Emile Short’s Commission of Inquiry.
According to Prof. Agyeman-Duah, the president’s lack of commitment to curbing political vigilantism has emboldened party members, heightening fears of potential violence in the 2024 elections.
“It’s unfortunate that the President, who is respected as a lawyer, didn’t get his Attorney General to take swift action,” he remarked during an interview on ABC in the Morning.
His concerns follow Justice Emile Short’s recent call for the prosecution of those responsible for electoral violence during the 2020 elections.
The commission, set up by the president, was tasked with investigating the violence but little action has been taken to address its findings.
With tensions rising ahead of the 2024 elections, Prof. Agyeman-Duah warns that the opposition party’s suspicions could lead to needless conflicts.
“If at that time the government had embraced those recommendations, it could have mitigated concerns, especially those of the opposition,” he stressed.
As the elections draw nearer, Professor Agyeman-Duah has urged political leaders to promote peaceful campaigns and discourage their members from inciting violence.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring decorum at polling stations and adopting non-violent approaches in their communication. “Political parties should resolve to educating their members to put up the best behavior,” he concluded.
