By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bongo (U/E), Sep 15, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged Ghanaian electorate not to exchange their votes for money during this election.
Ms Alice Ndego, the Bongo District Director of the Commission who gave the advice, noted that when one sold his or her votes, the seller does not only compromise his conscience but also betrayed the country and denied her of the needed leadership to spur up development.
“Vote buying and selling fuels corruption, undermines the principles of democracy and deny competent candidates a chance,” she stressed.
Ms Ndego said this at an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting, organised by the Commission as part of efforts to promote peaceful elections.
Phase two of the IPDC meeting was part of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) project funded by the European Union and being implemented by the NCCE.
The District Director explained that the Commission’s theme for 2024 was, “together, we can build Ghana, so get involved”, stressing that the theme was a clarion call for all stakeholders to play critical roles to maintain the prevailing peace before, during and after the December polls.
She urged the supporters and youth of the various political parties to eschew all forms of activities that had the tendency to influence and incite violence and destabilise the country during the election in December 2024.
“We are urging all citizens not to condone acts of political intolerance, politics of insults and political violence but rather what citizens deserve is an issue based campaign that offers solutions to develop the country and improve the living conditions of the ordinary citizen, campaign that projects national values and tolerance, a campaign devoid of provoking religious, cultural and ethnic tensions,” she added.
Ms. Ndego charged members of the IPDC to monitor the activities of the various political parties and advised them accordingly to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.
“As Inter-Party Dialogue Committee members, we are to help monitor violations and report cases of breach of rules and regulations relating to the conduct of the elections and maintenance of public order
“The committee shall also monitor the behavior of the electorate and supporters of political parties as they are often used by the parties to commit electoral offences. We are therefore appealing to the political parties to educate their supporters not to do anything that will result in violence,” she said.
Reverend Father Emmanuel Asiyuure, Chairman of the Bongo IPDC, noted that inclusiveness and participation was key to building the country and urged members of the Committee to play active roles in the impending elections to avert any violence.
He said Ghana was surrounded by countries that had experienced instabilities and cautioned that any disturbances in Ghana could create fertile grounds for the extremists to spillover their activities into the country.
GNA