2024 polls: NCCE holds inter-party dialogue in Damongo

National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) organized an inter-party dialogue in the Damongo Constituency of the Savannah region on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, with support from the EU’s “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE)” initiative to promote unity and ensure a peaceful electoral process ahead of the 2024 December elections.

Various political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, and local authorities participated in the dialogue to discuss strategies for maintaining peace during the elections. Mohammed Ibrahim, the West Gonja Municipal director of NCCE, emphasized the importance of preventing violent extremism and terrorism to uphold democratic governance and ensure peace and safety in the country and the sub-region at large.

Participants stressed the need to avoid any setbacks to democracy during the 2024 elections, as these could have negative ripple effects across the African continent. They called for actions to address the rising threat of violent extremism that poses a significant risk to Ghana’s stability and security.

The dialogue focused on peace, tolerance, and countering violent extremism and vigilantism, urging all stakeholders to monitor and report any threats or vulnerabilities to security services. The media was encouraged to uphold ethical standards and promote peace throughout the electoral process.

The NCCE’s key pillars for civic engagement in the 2024 elections include combating misinformation, promoting religious and ethnic tolerance, addressing the issue of money in politics, and preventing election violence.

High-profile stakeholders such as ASP Charles Aniagyei and Bombowurchea Memunatu Gaddo emphasized the importance of unity, forgiveness, and peaceful coexistence among citizens. They called on all stakeholders to work towards ensuring a peaceful electoral process and urged the youth to refrain from actions that could incite violence.

Contributing to the debate, Mohammed Ibrahim, the West Gonja Municipal director of NCCE noted that Violent Extremism and Terrorism continue to remain a serious challenge for the preservation of democratic governance which is essential for peace, prosperity, and safety in the country and the sub-region at large. Terrorism and other forms of violence including violent extremism have the potential to derail the democratic gains Ghana has made as the country prepares for a very crucial election in less than a year, it becomes imperative that steps are taken to prevent the use of the electioneering activities and platforms to perpetuate violence either by internal or external forces.

Ghana has conducted successful presidential and parliamentary elections and peaceful transition and transfer of political power from governing party to an opposition party in the years 2000, 2008, 2016 with peace, he emphasized.

He added “even though Ghanaians have continued to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, the Rule of Law, free, vibrant, and liberalized media landscape, and the promotion of democracy in general, the country cannot afford to lose guard at this crucial moment”.

He argued that any challenges to democracy in this year’s elections could have a negative effect.

“Conversely, any setbacks to democracy in Ghana’s 2024 elections could have a negative ripple effect. Potentially emboldening anti-democratic forces in the sub-region and entire African continent. It is therefore, critical for actions to be undertaking to address the rising threat of violent extremism that poses a significant threat to the stability and security of Ghana”, he said.

The dialogue was the second phase of the IPDC dialogue on peace, tolerance, and countering violent extremism and vigilantism.

The Savannah Regional NCCE director, Isaka Zitor appealed to all stakeholders to monitor and report threats and vulnerabilities to Violent Extremism to the security services. He urged the media to uphold the ethics of the profession and work towards promoting peace before, during and after elections.

He noted the NCCE’s four (4) key pillars that are driving civic engagements for the 2024 general elections.
The four pillars include misinformation (fake news), religious and ethnic tolerance, money in politics (vote buying), and election violence.

“I therefore, entreat all citizens to promote peace in all endeavors and urge electorates not sell their votes for money”, he stressed.

The chairperson for the program was Bombowurchea Memunatu Gaddo (Secretary of the Savannah regional Queen Mothers platform). Other high profile stakeholders were ASP Charles Aniagyei (Municipal police commander), LF Richard Ahwiren (Municipal Fire commander), Detective Police Woman Inspector Veronica Perosa Ofosu.

ASP Charles Aniagyei urged citizens to embrace peace and unity and also adopt the acts of seeking forgiveness when one commits a wrong against the other. And assured that the police are available for all and will do everything within the remit of the Constitution to protect lives and properties.

Overall, dialogue emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles, promoting peace, and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process in Ghana.

Source: Abdulai Zulkaninu