Election '08: Political parties sign joint communique

Accra, May 5, GNA - All the nine political parities contesting this year's election have signed a 13-point communiqu=E9 to ensure that they would do anything untoward to derail the democratic process which Ghana has enjoyed over the years. The communiqu=E9 was signed after three days meeting (May 2-4) under the Chairmanship of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs IEA) and the Ghana Political Parties Programmer (GPPP). The political parties are; the New Patriotic Party, Convention People's Party, People's National Convention, Democratic Freedom Party, United Renaissance Party, United Love Party, National Democratic Congress, Every Ghanaian Living Elsewhere and Ghana National Party.

The communique said the political parties having observed and noted the need for factors responsible for peaceful, free and fair elections said the national enforcement body established under the Political Parties Code of Conduct 2004, should be activated and replicated at the regional and district level.

It said that an Inter-Party Monitoring Committee designed to monitor and report breaches of the Code should be set up and operationalized under the national enforcement body and that political parties and politicians must refrain from making inflammatory statements to avoid stirring up passions and generating public disaffection. It urged public institutions especially law enforcement agencies to be strengthened by providing them with equipment, training and adequate funding to enable them discharge their duties effectively and professionally.

The communiqu=E9 said for Election 2008, the government should establish a Security Task Force, which should work closely with the EC at the national, regional and district levels in dealing with election-related issues.

It said the NCCE must be well resourced to undertake civic education on election-related responsibilities of Ghanaians and that it was necessary for the Electoral Commission to educate the law enforcement agencies about their expected role during elections. "That people in the public service who desire to run for political office on the ticket of any political party without being required to resign from office under the Constitution, should be able to do so without any fear, threat of victimization or intimidation," it said. The communiqu=E9 urged the Judiciary to take steps to resolve election-related cases expeditiously and that the use of law enforcement agencies and private security groups to intimidate electoral competitors and the electorate must cease.

It said elections provide a test for social cohesion which implied that all stakeholders ought to work together towards achieving peaceful elections;

And that while Ghana was making significant progress in its electoral processes, all stakeholder must, nevertheless, work together to ensure that what was achieved was further deepened. It asked political parties to build confidence and trust among themselves to serve as the basis for enforcement of the code.