Election 2024 not a do-or-die affair — NCCE

The Upper East Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), James Abdulai Ayaala, has stated that the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections are a contest of ideas and not a do-or-die affair.

“It does not mean it is a do-or-die affair in this election. It is a contest of ideas. You need to sell the manifesto of your political party,” he said.

Youth engagement

Mr Ayaala said this when the Kassena-Nankana West District Directorate of the NCCE engaged some youth of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Paga as part of efforts to intensify activities to ensure continuity and sustainability of peace in the 2024 general election.

It was on the theme: “Together we can build Ghana, so get involved.”

Mr Ayaala noted that the youth played vital roles in the election process, pointing out that “In any situation, especially when there is confusion or violence, it is mostly the youth that we see at the forefront.”

“So the NCCE thought it wise to engage you to ensure that the message of peace is spread across the length and breadth of the country for you to understand that you can live in harmony even though you may have your preferences,” he said.

Policies

The Kassena-Nankana West District Director of the NCCE, Robert Dampare, advised the NPP members to concentrate on their policies and sell their message to the electorate peacefully.

He said some politicians would try to use money to influence them to perpetuate violence, and admonished them to stay away from politicians who tried to buy their conscience with money.

The Paramount Chief of the Katiu Traditional Area, Pe Ayikode Zangwio Atoge IV, said the elections should be about policies and what the various candidates had for the people, devoid of violence and religious intolerance.

“It is about your policies and plans, if I see that your policies and plans will help me, then I will vote for you. So there is no need for the youth to fight among themselves.”

“We just want a peaceful and smooth election. We are all brothers,” Pe Atoge IV, who is the Chairman of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) in the District, said.

The Chiana-Paga Constituency Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mandela Mubashir Kassim, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after the engagement that they would continue to propagate the message of the NPP in a peaceful manner.

“We will preach the gospel of the NPP about what we have done and what we are yet to do. We are not ready for any violence. I can assure you that in Chiana-Paga Constituency, on our part as the youth of the NPP, there will not be any violence,” he said. ­­– GNA