On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the National Peace Council of Ghana held a meeting with the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to address concerns raised by the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah. Nketiah had stated that the NDC would not sign the peace accord for the 2024 elections, deeming it ineffective since it failed to ensure peace during the 2020 elections.

The NDC National Chairman criticized the Peace Council for remaining silent on the government’s inaction in holding those responsible for the 2020 election violence accountable. The violence led to the deaths of at least seven people.

During the crucial meeting, Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salin, a board member of the Peace Council, urged the NDC leadership to reconsider their decision and engage with the council’s activities. He assured them that their involvement would allow them to witness the council’s efforts in promoting a peaceful election.

“Give us the benefit of the doubt. Release the brakes a little, whether hydraulic or manual, and give us the breathing space to move forward. You might come to agree that we are making an effort,” Maulvi Salin appealed.

He added, “We just want you to accept us. I believe that establishing the Peace Council is one of the best things this country has done. It is our duty to ensure that the council lives up to its purpose.”

In response, Asiedu Nketiah reiterated his frustration with the Peace Council for not addressing the government’s failure to seek justice for the victims of the 2020 election violence. He clarified that the NDC is not asking the Peace Council to prosecute those responsible, but rather to speak out against the lack of justice for the victims.