By Solomon Gumah
Tolon (N/R), Dec 02, GNA – A day’s consultative dialogue meeting with various stakeholders in the Tolon District of the Northern Region has been held to promote peace before, during and after this year’s elections.
It was also to produce locally approved mechanisms and interventions to prevent terrorism and violent extremism, especially in the context of the elections.
It was organised by the National Peace Council with funding support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the Preventing Violent Extremism in Selected Hotspots in the Context of the 2024 General Election.
The project, which is being implemented in 20 constituencies across nine regions, seeks to create more awareness against violent extremism, especially in hotspot constituencies ahead of the elections.
It was attended by various stakeholders in the district including representatives of the Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, the security agencies, traditional and religious authorities, women groups, and persons living with disabilities.
It was used to sign a peace pact with the Parliamentary Candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tolon Constituency.
Whilst Alhaji Issah Tia, First Vice Chairperson of the NPP in the Constituency signed the peace pact on behalf of the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Mr Ziblim Adam, Tolon Constituency Chairperson of NDC, also signed on behalf of the Parliamentary Candidate of the NDC.
They both pledged their commitment to promoting peace before, during and after the elections and resolved to use legitimate means to settle their grievances without violence.
They pledged to encourage their supporters to refrain from indulging in activities that would create violence and instability in the area.
Father Thaddeus Kuusah, Executive Secretary, Northern Regional Peace Council, speaking during the event, said the project was part of efforts to increase collaboration between the Regional Peace Council and communities in preventing and responding to violent extremism before, during and after the elections.
He indicated that it was to help improve the capacity of community members to identify early warning signs and indicators of radicalisation as well as respond to extremist activities in the upcoming general election.
General Constable Mr Alhassan Gafaru Bateesima of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service at the Tolon District Police Command, expressed need for all to depend on the Electoral Commission for credible information on the elections.
He explained that “Most of the violence cases often recorded, are as a result of parties’ receiving information from the collation centres, which are not verified by the Electoral Commission.”
As part of the forum, participants came out with some measures to prevent violent extremism in the country, which included need to sensitise communities through the media on the dangers of violent extremism and terrorism, stage plays on violence, engage political parties and other ethnic groups to promote inclusivity, collaboration with the security agencies, and formation of community watchdog groups to complement the efforts of security agencies in the area.
GNA