NGO signs agreement with NCCE

Tamale, Feb. 23, GNA - Oxfam, a British NGO on Monday signed a 403 million-cedi agreement with the National Commission for Civic Education in Tamale to enable the Commission to conscientise the Ghanaian citizenry to make this year's general election violent-free.

The agreement seeks to promote peace among political parties, ethnic groups and the entire population and to stress the need for peace and security during the December elections.

Under the agreement the NCCE would use GBC radio and television to organise discussion programmes in both English and local languages that would promote free and fair general election devoid of violence. The Commission would also develop electioneering advertisement to disseminate information on violence-free elections from March 15 this year to February 28, next year.

A peace-building workshop would also be organised for women executives of all the political parties in the Northern Region as a means to sustain the campaign for peace during the elections. Mr Sam Danse Salifu, Country Programme Coordinator of Oxfam signed for Oxfam while Mr Laary Bimi, Chairman of the NCCE signed for his organisation.

With the signing of the agreement, the NCCE would receive the first grant of 177.2 million cedis immediately, while the second instalment would be released at the end of May 30 this year.

Mr Salifu noted that the December elections were critical in the political history of the country since the outside world would be watching Ghana to see the outcome of the polls to determine the survival or otherwise of the country's democratic dispensation. He therefore, urged Ghanaians to approach the elections with free and fair conscience to sustain the prevailing peace.

Mr Salifu said: "Let us continue to fight disease, deprivation, apathy, and squalor and stop fighting among ourselves since this is driving our development efforts backwards".

He said Oxfam was committed to the eradication of poverty and ensuring food security in the country, as well as helping to raise income levels and improving the standards of living of the people.

Oxfam, he said, was therefore supporting government's efforts at empowering men and women to produce to make food available at all times. The NGO was also facilitating farmers' access to marketing centres. Mr Salifu urged West African countries to promote sub-regional trading and thus create avenue for income generation.

He however, expressed the opinion that these objectives would not be achieved if the countries allowed conflicts to characterise their political and social systems.

He therefore, called on the countries to work towards the maintenance of peace in the sub-region, saying, "Conflict reduction can guarantee the achievement of our goals".

Mr Bimi urged Ghanaians "not to go to sleep" thinking that the country has reached the peak of its democratic growth and indulge in acts that would generate conflicts.

He said: "We must learn to tolerate each other's views irrespective of their political, ethnic or religious background to deepen and sustain our young democracy".

Mr Bimi advised politicians to be honest and criticise the wrongdoings of their political opponents "and give praise where praise is due".

"Let us also develop the culture of resigning from a political party if we feel strongly about a decision we consider wrong", he said.

He urged the media "to help sail the country across the political turmoil successfully" by being circumspect in their reportage and uniting the people rather than dividing them.