Media practioners have been cautioned against allowing politicians to use their platforms to engage in insults, and the promotion of violence as the country approaches the December General Election.
According to the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Kathleen Addy, the Commission had identified culture of insults, misinformation, “demand and supply” of money, ethnic base campaign as a threat to democracy in Ghana.
• Ms Kathleen Addy (left) speaking at the programme Photo: Victor A. Buxton
She gave the advice at press briefing in Accra yesterday, on the commencement of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) activities for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, on the theme “Together we can build Ghana, so get involved.”
IPDC, is a unifying body established by the NCCE to promote peace and tolerance among political parties, at the grassroots levels.
The event was attended by religious and traditional leaders, representatives from the security agencies, National Peace Council, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the United Nations Development Programme.
Ms Addy observed that the media played crucial role in national development, and stressed the need for practioners to promote free and fair elections.
She called on the public to promote unity and dialogue in all their activities, saying “As we embark on this journey towards the 2024 general elections, let us reaffirm our commitment to dialogue, tolerance and unity for the greater good of our nation.”
She urged Ghanaians to take part in decision-making of the country to hold leaders accountable for their actions.
The Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shiabu, urged the citizenry, especially the youth to unite and promote peace and stability in the country.
“Rwanda Genocide is still on our minds, do not be individualist as a citizen, we must all ensure that the country is safe for all,” he added.
He urged the public to eschew all acts of violence during and after this year’s elections, “We have only one Ghana and we are one people, we should not spill any blood during this elections”.
The Deputy Chairperson of Operations at the NCCE, Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, urged electorates to reject money from politicians who use money to entice them to vote for them.
He said politicians who used monetisation during these elections should be “named and shamed” to serve as deterrent to others.
The General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference Ghana, Rev. Fr Clement Kwasi Adjei, urged the populace not to entertain politicians drawing religion into politics.
He said the practice of religious politics was dangerous and must not be allowed, adding that religious groups in the country had over the years lived in peaceful co-existence and that relationship must be protected.