The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have pledged to ensure peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in the Atebubu-Amantin constituency this December. The commitment was made during the second Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting in Atebubu, organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) with support from the European Union.
The IPDC serves as a platform for political parties, stakeholders, and citizens to address electoral concerns, promote tolerance, and mitigate potential conflicts.
Mr. Patrick Tampugre, Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Director of the NCCE, emphasized the meeting’s role in preventing violent extremism by fostering dialogue ahead of the elections. ASP Thomas Prempeh Mercer, Municipal Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, urged parties to avoid divisive rhetoric and report threats to peace. Mr. Joseph Tang, Municipal Coordinating Director, lamented how partisan politics has eroded traditional Ghanaian values, urging youth to respect elders and avoid political hostility.
Pastor Nelson Aho, Vice Secretary of the Local Council of Churches, announced plans to collaborate with Muslim leaders on a peace campaign for incident-free elections. Mr. Peter Gyedu, Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission, reaffirmed the EC’s dedication to transparent and credible elections.
Participants identified irresponsible journalism, inflammatory radio discourse, and reliance on hearsay as threats to peace. Political parties agreed to rein in communicators’ excesses and uphold justice as a pillar of peace. NPP parliamentary candidate Abu Issa Dimie and NDC executive Bayimi Elisha (representing MP Sanja Nanja) both vowed to prioritize peace.
The meeting included representatives from disability groups, religious bodies, CHRAJ, and the media, underscoring a collective commitment to peaceful 2024 elections.
