Bishop Prof Albert Luguterah, a council member of the northern regional peace council, has identified politics and politicians as the primary threat to national peace.

Speaking at the 2024 northern regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards launch, Bishop Prof Albert Luguterah cited several factors contributing to conflicts in northern Ghana.

These include limited trust in the criminal justice system and violent extremism from other countries, which create security vulnerabilities.

However, he emphasised that politics and politicians are the main conflict drivers.

He urged the media to rise to the occasion as the December general election approaches.

He pointed out that with less than six months to the general elections, politicians are prepared to go to any lengths to retain political power for which reason the media should do everything possible to preserve the peace that the country currently enjoys.

“Star Ghana in 1 of his reports stated that the drivers of conflict in northern region of Ghana are varied. They include chief agency succession, the rights, the land rights disputes, high levels of youth unemployment, identity stereotyping, limited trust in the criminal justice system, growing development in the qualities and political polarization. Additionally, violent extremism driven by various forms of radicalism that are regularly unleashed in neighbouring countries further creates security vulnerabilities. However, we all know that the biggest threat to our peace is politics and the politician.

“Thus, every election year comes with increased risk. And as we get closer to the 7th December, the risk keeps increasing. We are grateful to God that by the help or with the help of the northern regional security council together with the peace council and all stakeholders including of course journalists. We have been able to manage it so far. But I do not want us to sleep thinking that giving the peace we have enjoyed so far, this is how it’s always going to be.”

“With less than six months to go, you can imagine that the heat is increasing. And therefore, we must also match it up with increased effort in making sure that we can keep this election violence free. Indeed, politics is no more about service. It’s now about life and death. It’s about survival, it’s about making it. It’s about entering and getting as much as you can for some people and people will do anything and everything to win political power. And we must all do everything as well to make sure that we maintain our peace. Given the critical role that the media plays in society, the role of the media in ensuring that we have a violent free election is critical,” he stated.

The northern regional chairman of the GJA, Abdul Majeed Yakubu, noted that both presidential candidates from the two major political parties hail from northern Ghana. This presents a unique challenge as the region is often seen as a conflict epicenter.

He therefore called on the media to exercise utmost care and diligence in their duties to maintain peace before, during, and after the general election.