Forum to promote peaceful election held at Bawku

A forum aimed at bringing together security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders in the Bawku Municipality to work together towards promoting peace before, during and after the December 7, 2016 polls has taken place at Bawku.

Representatives of political parties from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the People's National Convention (PNC), the All People's Congress (APC), some members of the Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee (BIEPC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the police among other stakeholders participated in the forum.

Similar fora are expected to be held in nearby districts of the Bawku Municipality such as the Pusiga, Garu-Tempane, Binduri and Bawku West districts all in a bid to help reduce tension in the Bawku Municipality which has experienced some  ethnic-related conflicts in the past. 

The forum, which was on the theme "engaging security agencies and political parties on peaceful election 2016," was organised jointly by the Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with STAR Ghana.

Police

Addressing the participants, the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Tefutor Kaletsi, indicated that the police were prepared to deal with those who would foment trouble in the run-up to the elections.

He, therefore, entreated traditional rulers and political parties in the area to avoid interfering in the work of the police to bring perpetrators of violence to book.

The commander equally pointed out the need for opinion leaders and traditional rulers to help expose those who were likely to breach the peace in the area during the election.

He assured residents of the Bawku Municipality that security would be beefed up on election day to enable eligible voters to go about the voting process in a free and fair manner.

Campaign

The representatives of the NDC, NPP, PNC and APC all pledged their commitment towards ensuring a peaceful electioneering.They equally expressed their preparedness not to inflame passions to help defuse tension in the area.

The Pusiga District Director of the NCCE, Mr Daniel Aboko Akologo, urged supporters of the various political parties to engage in issue-based campaigns not personal attacks or intemperate language when they mounted political platforms.

A private legal practitioner and member of the BIEPC, Mr Mohammed Nambe, stressed the need for collective efforts of all stakeholders to nip in the bud violent acts in the area with the ultimate goal of redeeming Bawku's image as one of the best commercial hubs in the West African sub-region.

He, therefore, called on the youth in the area to cooperate with the police to maintain peace in the municipality.

A spokesperson for the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Mr Thomas Abilla, expressed optimism that with support from all the stakeholders, Bawku would regain its past glory as a business town in the sub-region.

The Programmes Manager for BEWDA, Mr Shaibu Abubakar, said the entire project being implemented by his outfit was to, among other things, enable the organisation to play an advocacy role in ensuring peaceful elections while also embarking on a campaign to reduce rejected and spoilt ballots in the December polls.