Stakeholders in Election 2008 launch "Clean Election Campaign"

Accra, Sept. 18, GNA - A campaign dubbed "Clean Election 2008 Campaign" was on Thursday launched in Accra to promote peace, fairness and transparency during Election 2008.

The campaign on the theme: "Win Honourably, Lose Graciously," was initiated by Methodist Church of Ghana in collaboration with National Executive Committee of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and Initiatives of Change and Moral Re-armament (MRA)-Ghana.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of GJA said the campaign was focused on complementing efforts of the media to inform and educate the electorate on the need to contribute to free, fair and peaceful elections on December 7.

He urged media practitioners to be circumspect and exercise high professionalism in their coverage of election campaigns and noted that GJA did not intend to set any new rules but would emphasise on journalistic standards and ethics that required journalists to practice their profession with social responsibility.

Mr Tetteh pointed out that the media's non-reportage of an event did not make it a non-event but the gate-keeping role of journalists required that inflammatory language of politicians were refined in order not to inflame passions and advised politicians to be civil in their campaigns and not resort to abusive and provocative language.

He pledged GJA's commitment to partner every Ghanaian who cherished freedom and democracy and assist the Electoral Commission to declare a credible winner on December 7.

Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church of Ghana, noted that the campaign was non-partisan and called on Ghanaians to love and care for each other and not indulge in blame game. "We believe that as a church we have a prophetic role to play," he said.

Professor B.W. Garbrah, Chairman of Initiatives of Change and Moral Re-armament (MRA)-Ghana, expressed concern about election campaign which had been marred by violence and repulsive language by politicians. He said the campaign was aimed at initiating the healing process and inspire the electorate to "let by- gone be by-gone". Prof. Garbrah appealed to law enforcement agencies to deal with criminals behind political violence being perpetuated in some parts of the country.

Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Member of Parliament for Dome/Kwabenya and representing the ruling New Patriotic Party said anyone arrested for allegedly misbehaving during the electioneering campaign should be punished irrespective of the person's political affiliation.