Michael Molenaar: Let’s vote for Peace

“Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world” – Sharon Salzberg.

2024 is the year of elections. Elections have taken place or are currently taking place from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere, from Africa to Europe, and across the Americas, Asia, and Antarctica. Close to 100 countries around the globe and home to approximately half of the globe’s most populous nations—India, Bangladesh, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, and the USA—are voting. This is instructive and will have a significant impact on global politics.

Among the litany of nations voting this year across the world is Ghana. This year’s election in Ghana is akin to the US election that happened in November. A former president challenging a sitting government and hoping to be elected again.

Perhaps, the elections hold sway for many good reasons.

First is that policies will be enacted that will affect the lives of multitudes around the world especially in developed and developing countries.

Election is not life and death. It is about policies that shape and define the destinies of the masses. Elections are about agreeing to disagree. Elections are about choices.

Elections are about options and alternatives, whether good or bad or not so clear. The masses decide election results by their thumbs, and the electoral head correctly announces their decisions. The masses may be correct or incorrect.

Elections are about development and not disingenuity and war. Let’s not sacrifice our peace, future, and posterity on the altar of selfish interests. Let’s unite in peace.

James F. Clarke says, “A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman of the next generation.”

Let us all act as statesmen, thinking about our actions and their impact on the next generation.

Governance cannot exist without people, so let’s treasure the peace our forebears have bequeathed to us.

Let’s resist anybody, political party, or individual that will want to undermine the peace we are enjoying. In times of peace, even in the face of the hardest economic difficulties and challenges, we have the opportunity to rectify wrongs, whereas in times of war, such opportunities are impossible. So let’s choose peace.

Ghana has been a beacon and paragon of peace and indeed the envy of many countries in the sub-region, so we entreat all political actors to protect it and not undermine it for our parochial interests.

War is cruel, and peace is golden.

Thus, let’s preserve and unite in peace to preserve what we have and win these elections regardless of who the winner is. When you lose, concede in dignity, and when you win, celebrate in moderation because, after all, we all have a role to play in building a Ghana that’s prosperous.

Political parties come and go, but Ghana will still be here, so let’s protect our peace. Wish all Ghanaians a successful, peaceful, and issue-free election.

Remember, in voting or any election, we can express our commitment to ourselves, one another, our country, and this world. So let us do it right.

Let us vote for peace!