Agnes Ansah
Accra, Sept. 04, GNA – The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged young people to demand accountability and seek peace ahead of the 2024 elections.
At a political accountability programme organised by the NCCE and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) with support from the USAID in Accra, Mr Mawuli Agbenu, Regional Director, NCCE, Greater Accra Region, said it was part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure that the elections were held peaceful.
About 100 young ladies at 2nd Image International Skills College and Young Women Christian Association (YMCA) were sensitised to ensure that they were not used as tools to perpetuate electoral violence in the December polls.
Participants were educated on the effects of voting buying and political accountability, conflict and violence, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech
He said the youths were usually one of the most vulnerable groups in society during elections as most of them fell prey to bribes and voting buying during elections and suffered the consequences of under development thereafter.
He noted that voting buying prevented duty bearers from being accountable to the citizens.
“So, the sensitisation was to awaken their consciousness on the negative consequences of accepting bribes from political actors during elections and empower them to demand accountability,” he said.
Mr Gilbert Sam, Senior Elections Specialist, IFES, said the essence was to ensure that the youths were empowered to participate in electoral processes and demand accountability.
He said it had been observed that the youths were easily exploited to perpetuate violence during elections.
Mr Sam said the exploitation came in the form of money and other basic gifts, adding that the gifts usually clouded their judgement and caused them to indulge in violence and irresponsible behaviors that did not inure to the benefit of the state. “So, it is important that we educate them so that they do not fall prey to all these things,” he said.
Ms Juliana Adime Amoah, Trainer, taught the participants how they can curb information disorder, hate speech and demand accountability from duty bearers.
Speaking on information disorder, Ms Amoah advised participants to always verify information they receive from the various social media platforms before spreading the
She advised participants not to allow themselves to be used to snatch and steal ballots boxes or vandalise other political parties’ structures or posters.
GNA