The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has angrily denied rumors that it had foreseen unrest in Ghana before to the elections on December 7.
On August 21, the regional bloc disproved a news article published in The Herald newspaper by calling it false in a statement released on the same day.
“The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been drawn to a sensational article by The Herald tabloid of 21 August 2024, purported to capture ‘a draft statement’ on the findings of its recent Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Ghana under the crudely misleading banner ‘ECOWAS Mission predicts violence at Ghana’s 2024 polls.’ The Commission categorically denounces the tabloid’s dishonest reportage,” the statement said. “The Commission therefore finds it preposterous that The Herald would disingenuously repeat the standard operating procedures of ECOWAS fact-finding missions, twist issues that are in the public domain in Ghana, and try to push its partisan conclusions into the mouth of ECOWAS.”
Correcting the record, ECOWAS declared that it would have been a diplomatic blunder to make any pessimistic forecast about Ghana’s upcoming legislative elections.
“To educate The Herald, ECOWAS pre-electoral missions do not issue statements on their findings. Besides, reports of such missions are confidential and meant only for the eyes of the President of the Commission to aid his engagements with the authorities in Member States. In this instance, the preliminary report is still undergoing quality control. At no time before, during, or after the Fact-Finding Mission has ECOWAS ‘predicted violence’ in the electoral process,” the statement added.
Ghana is viewed as a model of developing democracy and tolerance on the continent, according to ECOWAS, which emphasized this point. It would do nothing to lessen the brilliant light of the nation, which is frequently cited as an example for the region.
