By Godfred A. Polkuu
Paga (U/E), Nov. 07, GNA – Some young people at Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region say they are reluctant to exercise their franchise on December 7 for fear of anticipated violence.
They expressed fear that the elections could be violent as was seen in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections which led to some reported cases of deaths in parts of the country.
For fear for their lives, the youth said they preferred to stay home and monitor the elections on television, then get involved.
The youth, who were seated at the ‘Royal Ghetto’ base in the Paga Township, expressed the fear when the District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) visited the base to interact with them.
The engagement was on the theme: “Together We Can Build Ghana, So Get Involved.”
The engagement was part of efforts by the NCCE to intensify activities to ensure continuity and sustainability of peace in the 2024 general elections.
Mr. James Abdulai Ayaala, the Regional Director of the NCCE, in his interaction with the youth, noted that they played vital roles in the election process, “In any situation, especially when there is confusion or violence, it is mostly the youth that we see at the forefront.
“So, the NCCE thought it wise to engage you to ensure that the message of peace is spread across the length and breadth of the country for you to understand that you can live in harmony even though you may have your preferences,” he said.
On the anticipated violence the youth expressed, Mr. Ayaala said it was within their right to exercise their franchise on December 7, without fear of any intimidation, and indicated that the way some youth jubilated if their preferred candidate won, could spark violence.
“If your candidate wins and you jubilate against people whose candidate lost, your action will infuriate them, and that can cause violence. So, if your candidate is declared victorious, at a polling station, quietly walk away and jubilate at a safe place,” he advised them.
Mr. Robert Dampare, the Kassena-Nankana West District Director of the NCCE, urged them not to despair, but participate in the electoral process peacefully.
He assured them that the election would be peaceful; and advised them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetuate violence before, during and after the elections.
Mr. Dampare told them that some politicians would try to use money to influence them to perpetuate violence, and further admonished them to stay away from people who tried to buy their conscience with money.
GNA