Media urged to help dial down political tension

The Eastern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Alex Sackey, has called for journalists to exercise good judgment in the performance of their duties to help dial down tension ahead of this year’s general election.

He said their reports should unite the people and protect the nation’s peace but not divide and set the people against each other.

He was addressing a day’s forum held to discuss ways of making the coming polls peaceful in Koforidua.

It was organized by the National Peace Council with joint support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr. Sackey asked the media not to become the conveyor belt of inflammatory pronouncements by political leaders and their supporters, to keep the political temperature down.

He also used the occasion to appeal to chiefs to remain politically neutral to enable them to serve as a unifying force in the society.

Mrs. Lydia Agyire, the New Juaben Municipal Electoral Officer, said the Electoral Commission (EC) was determined to ensure credible election, the outcome would be accepted by everybody.

She said the processes leading to the polls would be made open and transparent to boost public confidence.

The Reverend Peter Atta, Regional Executive Secretary of the Peace Council, spoke of the need for Ghanaians to overcome prejudices and mistrust.

He described the anxiety and fear associated with elections and other competitions as normal, and said, the important thing to do was to “manage our actions in a way that would not lead to trouble and violence”.