Peaceful Elections, Merry Christmas

Dear St Jude,

As we approach the Christmas season, a time for reflection, renewal, and hope, Ghana stands at a crossroads. The festive air that marks this season of joy and thanksgiving coincides with preparations for a pivotal national exercise, our elections. This rare alignment presents us with a profound opportunity to transform the spirit of Christmas into tangible action for the rebirth of our nation.
Ghana has long been a beacon of democracy in Africa, celebrated for its peaceful transitions of power and its commitment to democratic values. Yet, recent tensions and challenges threaten to mar this legacy. Political polarization, misinformation, and acts of violence during electoral processes undermine the stability and unity we have worked so hard to achieve. If there was ever a time to recommit ourselves to the ideals of peace and good governance, it is now.
Christmas embodies virtues such as love, peace, reconciliation, and selflessness. It is a season that reminds us of our shared humanity and the importance of prioritizing the common good over individual interests. These values are crucial for a successful election season.
As Ghanaians, we must embrace the Christmas spirit to guide our actions during this critical period. Political actors must temper their rhetoric with a sense of responsibility, ensuring that their words inspire hope and not division. Electoral officials must approach their duties with the utmost integrity, safeguarding the trust placed in them by the people. Citizens, too, must act as agents of peace, rejecting provocation and upholding the rule of law.
The Electoral Commission, security agencies, the judiciary, and the media have a special role to play. These institutions must operate with transparency, impartiality, and accountability. Their credibility is paramount to ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, and devoid of incidents that could trigger unrest.
Religious and traditional leaders also have a critical role in promoting dialogue and urging restraint. Let them remind us of our shared values and the higher purpose of our nationhood. Political leaders, too, must see beyond the immediate goal of winning power and instead commit to the long-term stability of Ghana.

As citizens, our responsibility goes beyond casting our votes. We must hold ourselves accountable for our actions, whether in person or online. Misinformation and inflammatory comments have become weapons of mass destruction in the digital age. Let us commit to sharing verified information, engaging in constructive discourse, and avoiding actions that could inflame tensions.
Moreover, parents and community leaders must guide the younger generation, teaching them to value peace over partisanship. The youth, who are often at the forefront of political activities, must reject any attempts to manipulate them into violence.
This Christmas, as we sing hymns of hope and celebrate the birth of Christ, let us also reflect on what we can do to ensure Ghana experiences its rebirth. An incident-free election is not just a political achievement; it is a moral triumph and a testament to our collective maturity as a nation.
The success of this election season will send a powerful message to the world, that Ghana remains steadfast in its commitment to democracy and peace. More importantly, it will reaffirm our faith in ourselves and in the ideals that have brought us this far.
So, let us resolve to make this Christmas not just a celebration but a turning point. By ensuring an incident-free election, we can gift ourselves and future generations the promise of a brighter, more united Ghana. May this season inspire us all to rise above divisions, choose peace, and work together for the rebirth of our beloved country.
St Jude, this is my last letter to you before we go to the polls. The die is cast. We can either rise to the occasion or squander it on the altar of parochialism and selfishness. It is our ultimate test and we cannot but pass it. Intercede for us so we can acquit ourselves creditably, the alternative will be much too disastrous.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kasise Ricky Peprah is a Roman Catholic and hails from Sirigu in the Upper East Region of Ghana. He started his education at the Our Lady of Lourdes Practice School, now renamed Monsignor Abatey Memorial School.
He went on to Notre Dame Minor Seminary Secondary School in Navrongo but had to transfer to Bolgatanga Secondary School where he sat for his GCE Ordinary Level examinations.
For Advanced Level, he went to Nandom Secondary School in the Upper West Region. He then went on to study Spanish and Political Science at the University of Ghana. He also pursued some studies in International Relations, holds an LLB from GIMPA as well as an LLM from the University Of Ghana School Of Law.
He speaks French, Spanish and English. He is also fluent in many Ghanaian dialects as well as Hausa.
Kasise has travelled considerably and possesses a cosmopolitan worldview but persists in being a rural boy at heart.
(I have been moved to share this article, already published by the Catholic Standard because my dear mother, after reading it, declared it was so on point. And so, naturally, I am convinced it will unfair to keep it away from the rest of my readership)