By Laudia Sawer
Ashaiman, Sept. 9, GNA-The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Ashaiman Municipality, has held an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting, calling on committee members to carry out peace discussions with their followers.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac P. K. Avornokadzi, the Ashaiman Municipal Police Commander, speaking on religious and political intolerance, urged the IPDC members to continue their discussions on peace and tolerance with their members.
ASP Avornokadzi said, “We pray and hope that as we engage in discussions like this, we also carry the message to our followers that no matter what happened, let us respect our religious values to be a guiding principle for us in Ashaiman; let us tolerate one another.”
He also urged churches and mosques to use their platforms to encourage their members to cherish dialogue over violence, noting that Ghanaians listen and believe in what their religious leaders tell them.
He said even though Ashaiman had diverse religions, residents must respect each other’s core values, beliefs, and practices and look upon that to help solve their issues whenever there is some political misunderstanding.
He suggested that as people had different political choices for the election in the constituency, there was a possibility of some clashes erupting, advising them that when it happens, they must ensure that they respect the values, beliefs, and cultures of every religion.
ASP Avornokadzi reminded them that “democracy is the success of the rule of law, stressing that when there is no peace because of religious and electoral violence, then, it means that the fundamental human rights of people are not secured.”
He urged residents and political parties not to take the law into their hands but rather report any electoral misgivings on election day to the police for redress.
He noted that political violence impact was highly devastating as it could tear families apart and lead to the destruction of communities and countries and called on stakeholders to put together comprehensive strategies to strengthen free and fair elections to promote justice, strengthen institutions, and enforce dialogue over violence.
Ms Salvata Mawulom Koku, the NCCE Ashaiman Municipal Director, said the Commission established the IPDCs at the regional and district levels as a proactive measure to foster peaceful elections and ensure stability in Ghana.
Ms Koku added that the committee served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among political parties and stakeholders to address and promote tolerance and mediate any potential violence that may arise.
Mr. Steve Reynolds, the Ashaiman Municipal Electoral Officer, updated the committee members on the various activities that the Electoral Commission had carried out towards the upcoming elections, such as the voter registration, voter register exhibition, and mop-up exercise.
Mr Reynolds informed them that the EC was currently working on the anomalies that were pointed out during the exhibition and by the political parties to ensure that hana has a credible register for a peaceful election.
Mama Dorla Nutifafa Worname, Queen of Ewes in Ashaiman, who chaired the meeting, reading a communiqué from members, said they agreed to coexist with each other before, during, and after the elections, promote and sustain political and religious tolerance among them, and will cooperate with security services to protect the peace.
She added that they have agreed not to spread fake news or misinform the public and would encourage the youth to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to solve their problems.
Meanwhile, participants called on the EC to be transparent in its activities to help build trust in them by voters and the political parties.
GNA