By Robert Tachie Menson
Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/R), Oct. 17, GNA – Apostle Abraham Swanzy, the Dormaa Area Head of the Church of Pentecost in the Bono Region has cautioned political parties against deviant behaviours that could trigger political violence, destabilise and disturb national peace and social cohesion in the electioneering.
He advised them to remain decorous, tolerant and endeavour to accommodate divergent views of their political opponents and desist from spreading information that could inflame passion too.
Apostle Swanzy recollected the country’s chequered political history and called on everybody to help safeguard and preserve the nation’s democratic government and regretted that many Ghanaians suffered atrocities during the military rule of 1979.
“In fact, many people suffered human rights violations and abuses and that need not to be repeated”, he stated when speaking at an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting on Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
Apostle Swanzy emphasised that the country had come a long way after the military regimes and underlined the need for the nation to build on the legacies of successive governments who ushered Ghana into democratic government.
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) organised the meeting, as part of its activities to promote peace before, during and after the 2024 General Elections, attended by representatives of religious bodies, traditional authorities, political parties, the Electoral Commission, and People with Disabilities.
Speaking on the topic “Political Tolerance for Peaceful Elections”, Apostle Swanzy advised the Ghanaians to respect each other’s views in the political discourse and refrain from negative behaviours that could create political tensions.
“Don’t fan political sentiments to stir up unhealthy controversies and fuel tensions. If somebody says something and it’s unpleasant, try and control your emotions and never share or spread it,” he advised.
Apostle Swanzy noted that political tolerance ensured and facilitated peaceful elections, strengthened democracy and built a better society even in the face of conflicts, and highlighted the need for political actors to promote healthy debates too.
Mr Samuel Amerigo, a Programme Manager, NCCE, urged political parties to adopt and utilize mediation in resolving local conflicts, instead of use of violence.
Baffour Kwadwo Damoah Afari, the Sanaahene (sub-chief) of the Dormaa Traditional Area called on the media to endeavour to be circumspect in their political reporting.
GNA