‘Let’s abhor violence to dissuade perpetrators’

Participants in the Graphic Town Hall meeting in Sunyani have stressed the need for the state to make it unprofitable for perpetrators of violence to engage in that act before, during and after the elections.

The participants, including political party representatives, were of the view that although the President had remitted the sentences of the “Montie trio”, the ruling by the Supreme Court on the matter had made careless talk on the airwaves a high risk business and that must guide political discourse in the country.

They, therefore, urged radio discussion panel members and hosts to guard against insults, lies and personality attacks.

These were the highlights of a question-and-answer session at the meeting, at which three political parties — the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) — made known their preparations towards free, fair and peaceful elections. 

Although the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC) had indicated that they would participate in the discussion, their representatives did not show up.

The theme for the town hall meetings is: “Good governance: A key to development and growth in Ghana”. 

The meetings are part of the GCGL’s efforts to bring political parties and their constituents together in an interactive manner to share views for the common good.

The programme has already taken place in Bolgatanga and will move to Koforidua on September 7 and Cape Coast on September 14, 2016.

Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Director of Newspapers at GCGL

It is also an effort by the GCGL to help deepen and consolidate multi-party democracy in the country.

Curbing violence

Leading the discussion on the need for peace before, during and after the elections, the Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Issah Nasagri, noted that political parties “have regrettably made perpetrators of violence honourable people in our society”.

“Why do we honour perpetrators of violence with positions of leadership and trust when they don’t deserve it?” he asked.

He said those people became leaders through their nuisance values and “we, as a people or nation, are forced to accept them as our social leaders”.

That, he said, was a bad example, contending that the only way perpetrators of violence knew how to lead was through violence.

Political education

Earlier, Mr Ali Dayindey, the Regional Communications Director of the CPP, had underscored the need for political education to be intensified throughout the country to enhance the political discourse, as well as strengthen the democratic journey.

In line with that, he enjoined stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission (EC), the NCCE, the security forces, political parties and the media, to champion the effort in ensuring peace.

Mr Dayindey also cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians, stressing that voters were more important than those being voted for.

The PPP Regional Research Officer, Mr Kwame Eshun, called on political parties to be rather preoccupied with the need to work towards meeting national development objectives.

He said the PPP would rally behind any political party that emerged victorious in the December 7 polls and said similar support should be given to the PPP if it emerged the winner.

The NDC’s Deputy Regional Communications Officer, Madam Comfort Ackah, said the party was empowering its women’s groups to project, talk and act peace to help forestall trouble during this year’s elections.

 Participants in the Graphic Town Hall meeting. 

She said since 1992, no political party had won elections on its own strength but had always relied on floating voters who listened to issues to make informed choices.

That, she said, required that the parties use temperate language and focused on issues that would catch the attention of that category of voters.

TUC representative

The TUC representative, Mr Abeaba Matthew Abereniya, who is also the Regional Officer of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), said there was the need for peace in the governance structure, pointing out that the people had nowhere to run to when there was violence, chaos or war.

He therefore, called for support for the EC and the security agencies for them to discharge their duties to the satisfaction of all.

Mr Abereniya urged politicians to always tell the electorate the truth, saying: “Those seeking our mandate and those governing us should tell us how they will make the lives of the Ghanaian worker better than they are now.”

Partisan chiefs

The Dean of the School of Natural Resources of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Oheneba Akyeampong, expressed concern about some traditional rulers who had become partisan and were declaring support for specific political parties.

He also wondered why the political parties were encouraging the practice, knowing that the Constitution frowned on it.