By Emmanuel Gamson/ Faustina Mensah
Effia (W/R), Aug. 29, GNA – The Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Western Region has inaugurated an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) to help foster peace and political stability ahead of the December 7 general elections.
The eight-member IPDC is to dialogue and ensure collaboration among political parties, stakeholders, and citizens to address electoral concerns, promote tolerance, and mitigate potential conflicts within the Effia and Kwesimintsim constituencies.
It was inaugurated at a forum, at Effia in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality, organised by the NCCE, and attended by representatives of the two main political parties (NDC and NPP), religious and traditional leaders, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), market queens, security agents, and youth groups.
Mr Yusif Usman, the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal NCCE Principal Civic Education Officer, speaking at the inauguration, said the upcoming general elections presented a critical time for the country, and it was essential to ensure that voters were well-informed and engaged for a peaceful process.
He said the IPDC was to focus on potential threats such as vote buying, religious and ethnic intolerance, and misinformation/disinformation that might result in violence and subsequently affect the peaceful conduct of the election.
In addition to the Committee’s dialogue function, he stated that the IPDC would help monitor and resolve cases of breach of rules and regulations governing the conduct of the elections.
Mr Usman encouraged the committee members to execute their assigned tasks diligently to help preserve the peace and stability in the country.
Mr Phillip Evans Nyarko, Assembly Member for Effia Electoral Area, encouraged the committee members to foster unity among political party candidates and their supporters, and other members of the public to help them make informed decisions regarding the election.
He also called on political parties to desist from indulging in activities that could create tensions before, during and after the December 7 polls.
Pastor Alex Kieninger Anum, the Chairman of the IPDC, on behalf of the other members, expressed gratitude to the NCCE and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in them to lead the peace-building awareness creation within the Effia and Kwesimintsim constituencies.
He pledged the Committee’s commitment to ensuring it deepened the awareness about tolerance and harmony among the electorate before, during and after the elections.
GNA