Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, has emphasized the critical importance of credible elections in preventing violence as Ghana heads to the polls.In an interview with JoyNews, Ibn Chambas warned of the risks posed by poorly conducted elections, stressing that they often serve as the root cause of unrest in the sub-region.

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He noted that contentious elections can lead to widespread instability if not managed effectively.He referenced Liberia’s civil war, citing flawed elections in 1986 and 1987 as the triggering factors for the conflict. “Most Liberians did not believe in the election result and did not accept the result. This triggered a civil war,” he explained.

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While cautioning against electoral flaws, Ibn Chambas praised Ghana’s history of peaceful elections, calling the country a model for electoral management in the region.“We have succeeded in holding credible, violence-free elections eight times, and this is our ninth. There is a high expectation that we will continue to excel,” he added.

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