By Mohammed Balu
Tumu (UWR), Nov. 28, GNA – Mr. Sule Dintie, the Executive Director of SAVE Ghana, a non-government organisation (NGO), has advised the media and political party communicators to be civil in their utterances to ensure peace before, during and after the elections.
He gave the advice during a roundtable discussion with the media and some political party commentators towards shaping a peaceful electoral process at Tumu under the “Strengthening Dialogue and Peace Committee for Change” by Star Ghana.
The Executive Director charged moderators of radio station political shows to ensure that voices of all citizens were heard and respected saying, “we have done some work to ensure the peace that we have can be maintained before during and after the elections.”
“Let’s come together as commentators and media persons to ensure communication is civil as radio conversations in other places have turned violent,” Mr. Dintie said.
He noted that his outfit shall begin to monitor social media such as Facebook, twitter and radio conversations and would name and shame those engaged in inappropriate language to ensure responsible communication.
He indicated that politics could be done without inflaming passion and degenerating into violence.
Mr. Dintie said 80 per cent of social media posts were caused by political party activists and joined by their followers.
“This should not be allowed to continue,” Mr. Dintie cautioned.
Mr. Bawa Peter Bawie, the Sissala East Communication Officer of the NDC said it was normal to see the political atmosphere getting higher a few days before the elections.
He said it was important to try and reach out to the leaders of the political parties for direct engagement to ensure peace.
He disagreed with the claims that the NDC had the habit of insulting NPP members, adding that there were no facts to back such a claim
He said it was also important to stop the blame game and unnecessary accusations of political opponents for peace building to succeed.
Mr. Bawa pledged to organise a meeting with the NDC social media team to ensure that a more decent language is used and commit to preach peace for at least, about five minutes in all their radio programmes.
Mr. Osman Quanda Mohammed, a Communication Officer of the NPP said the NPP Parliamentary candidate has a blood relation with the NDC candidate and both preached peace anytime they spoke.
“Name calling is one of the areas that increase tension, and we are committed to stopping that,” he said.
Mr. Quanda asked radio stations to moderate their programmes well and get people to retract when they use foul language.
Rev Julius A. Danbo, a member of the Peace Committee of the Local Council of Churches stressed the need for all to make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
“Our plea is that much of the work depends on the moderators at the radio station to ensure that everything they do must promote peace,” Rev Danbo said.
Madam Alima Issa, the Queen Mother of Tumu, appealed for peace by not insulting one another and showing respect to one another before, during and after the elections.
Some of the radio presenters and managers pledged to ensure that they moderated talk and political shows professionally to promote peace.
GNA