By Kamal Ahmed
Somanya(E/R), Sept 9, GNA – The Yilo Krobo Municipal office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Eastern Region has organized an interparty dialogue conference for political parties in preparation for the 2024 general election.
The purpose of the forum was to create a platform for political parties to foster unity and uphold peace before, during, and after this year’s elections.
Ms. Henrietta Glikpo, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Director of NCCE, emphasized the importance of stakeholders serving as peace ambassadors and promoting peace in all aspects of their activities.
“We have only one Ghana and Yilo. Therefore, let’s find a peaceful means to put an end to anyone who is advocating war, ” she said.
Adding, “Peace is expensive, and we must not jeopardise it.”
She urged political parties to alert their following to the dangers of misinformation, as it can cause chaos and war.
“People produce anything while sitting in their comfort zones and share it with the world, especially in this day and age when social media may be used to mislead the public and cause unintentional problems,” she said.
She also urged everyone to prioritize peace and condemned politicians for insulting each other on the radio and during their campaigns.
Ms. Glikpo stated that elections should not be used for personal attacks or insults, but rather should focus on outlining and espousing strategic policies to the people, and that candidates should be elected based on these policies.
Superintendent Abrokwa Kingsley, Yilo Krobo District commander of the Ghana Police Service addressed the meeting about the Public Order Act 491.
He urged political parties to prioritize the act to maintain peace, emphasising the importance of all political parties and other stakeholders to participate in maintaining peace during and after the elections.
The police chief also stressed that anyone found engaging in election violence would be appropriately dealt with.
“Yilo krobo has been peaceful, but the just-ended voter registration exercise and the matters that arose have made it to be identified as a hotspot, and the police administration is very serious and ever ready to maintain peace” he said
He advised political parties to convey the ‘peace’ message to their followers and warned that the police won’t take it easy on anyone who plans to destabilize the system.
Rev. Kennedy Agyapong, the Somanya Catholic Priest, also stated that no country had been able to prosper through violence, hence, everyone in the country should embrace peace.
Nene Batsa Obuyoe iii, chief of Aboki in Somanya, advised political parties to prioritise policies above hate speech, which might lead to violence, saying: “Peace is essential for national growth, and everyone must prioritise it.”
GNA