By Agnes Ansah
Accra, Sept.02, GNA – The Ga North Inter-Party Dialogue (IPD) Committee has called for peace ahead of the December polls.
The Committee made up of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Electoral Commission (EC), Political Parties, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Muslem and Christian caucus, Traditional Leaders, Market Women and Youth underscored the need to protect Ghana’s peace, with each other playing its role for a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections.
The call for peace was made at an IPD meeting organised by the NCCE on Tuesday, August 27.
Madam Rose Elorm Klutse-Adelayita, Assistant Director, NCCE, Ga North Municipal Office, said the gathering was to create a platform for engagement among various stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election and entrench Ghana’s democracy.
“Our gathering is timely, as we navigate our democratic process through open dialogue and mutual respect, we can address challenges, build trust and strengthen our democratic institutions,” she said.
Nana Kojo Dum, Chief of Ajuma Ochiso and Guest Speaker, bemoaned the pockets of violence experienced during the previous elections.
He made reference to the Ayawaso West Wuogon clashes and similar incidences that happened during the 2020 elections.
He said those forms of violence if not curtailed through the preaching of peace messages, could escalate into war.
He urged stakeholders to preach peace wherever they found themselves during, before and after the elections.
Ms Efua Koranteng Asomaning, EC representative for Ga North, said the Commission’s mandate is to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.
However, she said citizens also had a role to play in making the elections fair and transparent.
She said one of the ways citizens could help the EC to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections is to avoid wearing party paraphernalia to the voting grounds.
Ms Victoria Ashley, a representative of CHRAJ, spoke about the rights of voters and urged stakeholders to educate the people in their sphere of influence.
She said some of these rights when violated, contributed to violence, which must be avoided.
She cautioned against influencing non-Ghanaians to vote, indicating that it could be a fertile ground for violence.
Regarding minors participating in the elections, she emphasized that the law requires that a voter must be 18 years and above and of sound mind to vote and advised that anyone who fell short of this qualification should not be allowed to vote.
Mr Kennedy Eshun, District Pastor, Church of Pentecost, Amamorley District advised political parties to engage in campaigns devoid of insults and manipulations.
GNA