Don’t be victims of political manipulation  - NCCE advises youth

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has advised citizens, particularly the youth, to vote for candidates based on issues that speak to their conscience and policies they believe will accelerate socio-economic development.

She, therefore, urged them to reject politicians who tried to entice them with money, gifts and promises to incite violence and threaten the nation’s globally revered peace and stability. 

“We came here to discuss things like violence and violent activities, and remind citizens that these things are outside of the law, and it doesn't help our country. So, we must avoid becoming victims of politicians who come and give us arms, give us knives, and a little bit of money to go and cause trouble during the election,” she said. 

Ms Addy was speaking at a community engagement organised yesterday to sensitise the public to misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and fake news as the nation headed into the electioneering period. 

Community engagement 

Organised in collaboration with International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and USAID, it formed part of the NCCE’s efforts to help ensure peace and stability  before, during and after the elections. 

Held on the theme: “Together we can build Ghana, so get unloved”, participants were educated on political accountability and the dangers of vote buying/money politics, their negative effects on national development and socio-economic growth. 

They were equally sensitised to political processes and the roles of relevant stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission (EC) and the benefits of free and fair elections, religious tolerance and democratic values. 

Members of the community were also given the opportunity to ask questions for clarification of some issues in the public domain with regard to the elections. 

Mandate 

Ms Addy stressed that the NCCE would not relent in its mandate and mission to educate citizens against activities that could potentially disrupt the nation’s democracy. 

“We are doing this work not only here, but in various less endowed communities around the country. We are giving extra attention to those communities because we want the message to sink here very clearly. Because a lot of times it is the young people from these areas that are misused or misled into taking up illegal activities around elections,” she said 

The NCCE Chair also called on law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to pursue and prosecute individuals and groups who embarked on activities that tended to create political tensions before, during and after elections, and that; “if we all do our mandate, the system will work.”

Inclusion 

The  Senior Election Specialist of IFES Ghana, Gilbert Sam, said his outfit was committed to addressing the issues of inclusion in the nations political landscape, particularly for women and persons with disabilities. 

He also said it was intensifying the campaign against vote buying, and stressed that such illicit activities would hamper the country’s socio-economic development. 

“We’ve been fighting against galamsey for a while now. So imagine a galamseyer funds a certain politician or MP who then finds their way into Parliament. Do you think if there’s a bill to tackle the issue, that person would be able to vote in support? No,” he said.