By Robert Tachie Menson
Nkrakwanta (B/R), Sept. 17, GNA – Madam Cynthia Anima Boadu, the Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on political parties to study, and comply with the Political Parties Code of Conduct 2012, ahead of the December 7, polls.
She explained the code served as a guide in the electioneering, saying political parties ought to be abreast with it in conducting their campaign activities to strengthen the prevailing peace of the nation.
Madam Boadu made the call at an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) consultative meeting at the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region, held at Nkrankwanta, the district capital.
The NCCE organised the meeting in line with the implementation of the phase two of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) project, being undertaken by the NCCE with funding from the European Union (EU).
It was attended by traditional authorities, religious organisations, and political party representatives and discussions were centred mostly on strategies towards the conduct of a peaceful Election 2024 in the district, including peace building and management and conflict and dispute resolutions.
Madam Boadu reminded the IPDC that the committee was set up to identify and tackle threats of peace and asked the members to remain proactive in that regard, entreating them to create a common platform where they could immediately discuss and tackle challenges that threatened the conduct of a peaceful elections in the area.
She said, “The IPDC can also request for the action plans of the various political parties to effectively monitor their activities too,” and reminded the committee that they could not mediate criminal cases, instead handover such cases to the police.
Superintendent Prince Asante Debrah, the Dormaa West District Police Commander, explained Violent Extremism was the beliefs and actions of people who supported or used violence to achieve ideological, religious, or political goals.
He said all forms of violence were criminal, warned that anybody who perpetrated violence would be prosecuted and assured the Committee of the police readiness to support their activities to sustain the peace of the area before, during, and after the General Election.
Mr Emmanuel Attah, the Dormaa West District Director of the NCCE stressed the need to bring all political actors together and strategize well towards averting violent extremism and thereby promoting peaceful coexistence and urged the election stakeholders to collaborate effectively.
Mr Iddrisu Mahama, the Dormaa West District Coordinating Director, also the Chairman of the IPDC commended the political parties for their comportment during the new voters’ registration, mob-up and exhibition exercises.
GNA