We must not allow politics to damage Ghana — NCCE

The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Eastern Region has held an interparty dialogue for political parties in preparation for the 2024 general elections.

The forum was meant to provide a platform for political parties to encourage unity and preserve peace during and after elections.

Ms. Ophelia Ankrah, the Eastern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), stated that peace was critical and that everyone should prioritise peace so that Ghana would not be disturbed.

She advised political parties to instil peace in their followers during and after the elections, saying:“Let us continue to enjoy the peace we have today throughout and after the elections so that our country can be safe.”

She emphasised that there were countries that yearned for the kind of peace that Ghana was fortunate to enjoy, but unfortunately, they could not achieve it.

“I witnessed the revolution at a young age, and it was terrifying, which is why we must not allow politics or elections to damage the country while we continue to enjoy peace,” she said.

Ms. Ankrah stated that elections were not about battling each other but about implementing sound policies that served the needs of the people.

Mr. Kwabena Asare, the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Commander of the Ghana Police Service, urged political parties to warn their supporters against misinformation.

He stated that the police occasionally received erroneous information, which caused fear and panic in the system, and advised party leaders to be cautious.

“Information is like a raw material; you must process the information you receive into intelligence before you move,” he said.

He emphasised that hate speech and false information were factors that contributed to violence and asked them to put their policies first rather than participate in hate
speech.
He also warned political parties against engaging in actions that could jeopardise the peace and stability of the region and the country.

Mr. James Awumey, Lower Manya Director for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who led the session expressed confidence that this year’s election in the municipality would be peaceful.

“We must help the electoral commission to do its tasks, and we also expect the commission to create standards so that people will gain trust in them, which it can only accomplish when it is transparent,” he added.

Manye Horgbaryo, Queen Mother for Piengua, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the young fellas in the party were those likely to cause confusion.

She urged NCCE to take their education to communities and houses.

Political parties, religious leaders, and other stakeholders graced the occasion.