The Kadjebi District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has inaugurated a nine-member Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), to sensitise electorates on maintaining peace in the district before, during and after the December 7 polls.
The nine-member Committee had religious leaders, and representatives of political parties, media and security services, women’s groups, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Superintendent of Police, Frank Nana Asomaning, the Kadjebi District Police Commander, warned that since electoral violence knew no boundary, it should be avoided.
He stated that mis, dis and mal information, as well as propaganda and fake news, could lead to electoral violence, and must all be avoided too.
Supt. Asomaning, who gave a presentation on mis, dis, mal information, propaganda, fake news, and electoral violence, said these acts eroded trust in democracy, weakening national unity and could serve as potentials for foreign interferences.
He said to protect Ghana’s
electoral process from the harmful effects of mis, dis, and mal information, there should be media literacy programmes to educate the public on how to verify information.
The Police Commander said there should also be fact-checking organisations to quickly debunk false claims.
He said there should also be stronger regulation for social media platforms to prevent the rapid spread of false content.
Mr Cletus Chevure, the Kadjebi District Co-ordinating Director, asked the Committee members to go to the communities, Churches, and Mosques in the District to preach peace.
He said the Candidates seeking their votes are not the problems, but they the supporters, so the Committee members should educate the supporters of the political parties to be tolerant.
Mr Daniel Agbesi Latsu, the District Director, NCCE, Kadjebi, said the Committee aimed at peacebuilding and working in adverting violent extremism, promoting peaceful coexistence and national cohesion before, during and after the December 7, 2024, polls.
He s
aid thirty-four potential flashpoints have been identified in the Akan Constituency and that these are fertile grounds for extremist groups to exploit.
Mr Latsu said that was why their needed to avoid violent acts that could generate conflicts leading to the destruction of lives and properties.
He said Ghana needs peace to progress, so everything should be done to sustain the prevailing peace in the country.
Speaker after speaker reiterated the need to sustain peace in the Kadjebi District.
The engagement was sponsored by the European Union (EU) as part of the Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) Action in the Northern Regions of Ghana programme.
Source: Ghana News Agency