The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Leadership Awards, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Yao Nash has once again called on embassies in Ghana to quit giving visas to government officials until the December 7 surveys are conducted and done with.
According to him, the action if heeded by the embassies would help ensure that politicians do not engage in acts that could plunge the country into violence.
“When politicians know that they cannot leave the country at any point in time during this election period, they will be decent in whatever they do or say,” he noted.
Rev. Emmanuel Nash made this assertion when speaking at the just ended 2020 Ghana Leadership Awards organised in Accra on Saturday, October, 17 to honour individuals and organisations that have made outstanding differences in the society.
The event was marked on the theme “Celebrating our heroes in a peaceful Ghana, one people working together,” and was graced with the attendance of some government officials, traditional leaders, security personnel, and other important personalities in the country.
The awards is to recognise leaders for their exemplary contributions towards Ghana and Africa’s growth in economic, social, political and leadership development.
Raising concerns on the way and manner in which Ghanaian youths are most involved in misconducts during elections, Rev. Nash urged them to stay away from such acts.
He likewise called on appropriate organizations to monitor, name, shame and sanction media outfits that will permit their outlets to be utilized to create violence and tension in the country during December 7.
“We are also asking institutions that had the obligation to maintain and sustain peace to act in a manner that would help remove all oppressive structures from society,” he said.
Social institutions such as the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs and other civil society organisations (CSOs) ought to get involved by holding politicians who engage in violent campaigns to check.
“In order to maintain and sustain peace in the country, these institutions ought to act responsibly in order to remove all oppressive structures that are inimical to national peace and stability.
“I want to call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to apply the electoral laws firmly without discrimination especially when it comes to NPP and NDC since any attempt to bend the rules could spark violence.”
He additionally encouraged the political parties to consider the Electoral Commission as a key stakeholder in the democratic process by continually looking for an explanation on issues that they didn’t see as opposed to assaulting the trustworthiness of the electoral body.
“We need to, as a people, know that the EC is the mandated body for the conduct of our elections. We need to support the EC to discharge its mandate in a peaceful manner rather than creating conditions that will spark violence and put the electoral body into disrepute,” he added.
List of Awardees
1. Apostle Dr. Samuel Obeng-Mensah, Head of Administration, Ga East
2. Arafat Sulemana Abdulai, Zongo Development Fund
3. WOI Joseph Hammong, World War 2 Veteran
4. Kweku Kwarteng, Member of Parliament Obuasi West
5. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu Majority Leader of Parliament
6. Mr. Sampson Asare Fianko, Deputy Controller and Accountant-General (Finance and Administration)
7. Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader of Parliament
8. Mrs. Francess Virginia Anderson, Sierra Leone High Commissioner
9. Dr. Frank Ankobea Esq., President of Ghana Media Association
10. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, Chief Executive Officer, Crime Check Foundation
11. Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, Controller and Accountant-General
12. Mr. Yoofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
13. Madam Veronica Alele Heming, District Chief Executive for Bole
14. Otoobuor Djan kwasi II, Chief of Aburi
15. Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba, Chairperson of Henry Djaba Foundation
16. Mr. Suaib William W. Adam, Retired Educationist
17. David Dontoh, Veteran Actor
18. Mark Woyongo, Former Interior Minister
19. Nacee Nana Sei, Gospel Musician
20. Dr. Hannah Bissiw, Former Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture
21.Janet Tulasi Mensah, Municipal Chief Executive, Ga East
22. Cassiel Ato Forson, Former Deputy Finance Minister
23.Dr. Rauf Audu, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Pharmacy Council
24. Dr. Rashid-Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central
25. Christine BonBanye Amadu, Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive
26. Dr. Osei Kwame Despite, Chief Executive Officer Despite Group of Companies
27. Oppong Nkrumah, Information Minister
28. Mr. Emmanuel Asiedu Mante, Former Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana
29. Bishop Dr. Charles Hackman, General Overseer, Fire City Chapel
30. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Minister or Gender, Children and Social Protection
31. Dr. Ernst ofori Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer, Special Investment Limited
32. Mr. Isaac Adongo, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central
33. Mr. Emmanuel Bright Obeng Nyarko, Managing Director Kofata Motors
34. Nathaniel Ato Kito
35. Ambassador David Ahaglatey
37. Henry Djaba Foundation
38. Pharmaceutical Council
39. Ga East Municipal Assembly
