Correspondence from Ilyaas Al-Hasan, Upper West

Elections in this country are often characterized by high expectations from electorates coupled with heightened tensions, particularly during general elections, despite the country's ability to maintain peace after every election since adopting constitutional rule.

But for the unfortunate incident in 2020 that resulted in the loss of lives at Techiman South, Ghana has often largely come out of every election unscathed and united, earning remarkable accolades for its democratic credentials, albeit with isolated incidences sometimes recorded in some constituencies.

Political analysts and well-meaning Ghanaians are intensifying calls for voters not to allow anything that will mar the peace and stability Ghanaians are enjoying in the upcoming elections.

As Ghana gears up towards an election that will go down in history as one of its toughest elections ever held in the country due to the unique dynamics that come with it, GhanaWeb has hit the streets of Wa Central Constituency in the Upper West Region in a bid to gauge the expectations of voters over what informs their choice of a candidate in the upcoming general elections.

Voters who spoke to GhanaWeb noted that holding peaceful elections on December 7 is non-negotiable to ensure citizens continue to enjoy peace and stability in the country even in the aftermath of the polls, no matter who wins the day.

This was evident in how some electorates who spoke to GhanaWeb's Upper West Regional correspondent, Ilyaas Al-Hasan, in an interview, expressed many concerns about the security of the country, thereby only touching on the need for Ghanaians not to take the peace and stability in the country for granted before, during and after the elections.

Abdullahi Nurudeen, speaking to GhanaWeb, said: "We're advocating for peace before, during and after the elections. We're saying that anybody who emerges as the winner is our president. God chooses leaders for us."

Mercy Dakogri also stated: "For me, in terms of this election, I'll say that peace is very important like during and before the elections because, at the moment, it's the peace we all enjoy as a country. And particularly if, after the elections, there's violence or other issues, we usually say it's the children; that's the important thing. It's children that suffer the more; women suffer the more."

She also added: "So I'll encourage everybody to preach the message of peace to ensure that wherever you find yourself on the election day, there'll be peace during and after the elections so that we all stay peaceful so our children and our women will be blessed and we have a peaceful election."

A health worker, Opoku Boahen Jerry, also called for a peaceful election come December 7, saying: "2024 is just at hand. Who needs to preach peace? You need to preach peace; I need to preach peace. We all need to preach peace. We all need to champion the cause of peace to make Ghana better for all of us."

While also preaching for peaceful elections devoid of violence, Mr. Joel Yeng, an entrepreneur, intimated that he is more enthused to vote for a candidate who has good policies to help the country's developmental agenda. In contrast, Ibrahim Yussif, another voter, mentioned the fight against corruption, the creation of employment opportunities and improved infrastructure as what would inform his choice to vote for a particular candidate.

Dauda Abdul-Ganiu, also known as Adjetey the Star Boy in media circles, said his choice of a candidate would be greatly influenced by his current living standards but advised voters against massing up at polling stations on the election day after casting their ballot to ensure a peaceful process since that often tends to create chaos during elections.

A fashion designer, Bugis Ghana, while acknowledging the need to maintain a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the elections, noted that his vote would go for any candidate that comes with good policies to enhance the growth of his profession and ready to improve the road network in the region which he indicated is nothing to write home about.

He entreated voters to leave the polling stations immediately after voting and only come back at the close of polls to observe the counting process to reduce tensions during the exercise.

Many voters who spoke to GhanaWeb but would not go on record outlined issues that could influence their choice of a candidate as someone who is ready to fight corruption, create employment opportunities, roll out good policies to reduce prices of commodities to enhance living conditions of the citizenry and work to reduce the infrastructural deficit in the country, especially roads and hospitals.