‘Ensure decorum in political discourse’
The Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Mr Ali Anankpien, has entreated political parties to ensure decorum in their political discourse in the run-up to this year's general election.
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He further advised communicators and spokespersons for the various political parties to focus on issues rather than personalities.
Mr Anankpien stated this during a programme in Bolgatanga to promote peaceful elections in the Upper East Region dubbed: "All Christian Believers Fun Games", aimed at ensuring that churches played critical roles in promoting peace and unity in the November polls through games. It was organised by the Joyful African Mission (JAM), a religious organisation.
According to the secretary,"the election is about the contest of ideas and not personalities, hence parties must market their policies and programmes devoid of verbal attacks on personalities".
Flash Points
Mr Anankpien also cautioned representatives of political parties in the region to be wary of whatever they say during campaigns at the various flash points in the region.
He mentioned areas such as Bolgatanga and the Bawku municipalities as some of the flash points in the region owing to the protracted chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts in those areas.
He stressed that political parties should avoid using the conflict as campaign messages as that might inflame passions and cause disturbances in the electioneering.
Stakes High
The Director of Joyful African Mission(JAM), Reverend Pius Prah, noted that the stakes were high in the 2016 general election, thus bringing about "a lot of brouhaha in the political arena," which must not be allowed to ruin Ghana's electoral system.
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Rev.Prah further pointed out that the six successful elections held by Ghana in 1992,1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 were enough to let the world know that Ghana was a beacon of peace in Africa hence all stakeholders must also ensure that the trend continues.
"The 2016 elections is turning out to be a little different because of the many issues that are coming out; that notwithstanding, the country must come out successfully", he stressed.
Rev. Prah observed that "as politicians you cannot govern without the citizenry and when you mount the political platform you must watch what you say and avoid political vindictiveness because your supporters are also watching you and they are likely to follow what you tell them".
He equally urged the Electoral Commission, the National Commission on Civic Education and other stakeholders in the elections to play their roles effectively so that any political party that emerged as winner of this year's elections would do so based on merits while those who would lose would accept the outcome of the results based on free, fair and transparent elections.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr James Arthur-Yeboah, observed that the electoral processes were made to help select the candidates and parties with the best of ideas hence all stakeholders must support the EC to educate the public on the electoral processes to make the 2016 elections successful.
About ten churches engaged in fun games such as skipping, sack racing, eating competition, relay, musical chairs, small pole penalty shoot-out among others.