Civil Society mounts pressure on Politicians to adhere to peaceful elections

Civil Society groups in the country on Tuesday intensified pressure on democratic stakeholders, including political party leaders, Electoral Commission and National Commission for Civic Education to work towards peaceful elections in December.

In a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Socioserve-Ghana (SSG), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Akosombo asked the general public to eschew violence before, during and after the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections.

“We seek peace, we have nowhere to go, Ghana is our country; we appeal to the aspirants and electorates to focus on issues and be tolerant during the electioneering process to ensure a peaceful election,” Ms Rita Ntoso, Programmes Manager of Socioserve-Ghana was quoted as saying.

According to the statement, SSG had initiated a campaign dubbed “Know Your Member of Parliament- KYMP” Project with support from STAR-Ghana and funding from USAID, DfID, EU and DANIDA.

The 'Know Your MP' project is being implemented by Socioserve-Ghana in partnership with Rite 90.1FM in the Asuogyaman, Lower Manya Krobo, Fanteakwa, Nsawam Adoagyire, Kade, Ayensuano, Suhum, Nkawkaw and Lower West Akim constituencies, all in the Eastern Region.

Under the KYMP project, SSG will organize “Parliamentary Candidate’s Debates” and “Get Involved (GI) Platforms”.

The parliamentary debate aims to provide an equal opportunity to candidates to present their visions and programmes to their constituents and to offer opportunity to formulate, present and articulate their policies and programmes to the electorates.

In addition, Parliamentary Debate will enhance public education about candidates’ policies and programmes, as well as help candidates to think through and develop feasible programmes to tackle pressing developmental issues affecting the constituents.

According to the SSG, the debate will also create a platform for the electorate to assess all the parliamentary candidates on the basis of cogent proposals and messages.

The Get-Involved Platforms on the other hand, are aimed at promoting political tolerance among the political parties and the electorates. According to Ms Ntoso, during such platforms, political parties will be entreated to give peace messages aside discussions on how to manage triggers of election violence such as use of intemperate language, and the breakdown of machines.

She therefore entreated the residents of the beneficiary constituencies to participate in the debates and the GI platforms.

Mr John Obuaba SSG Programme Officer appealed to aspirants, electorates and particularly members of political parties, not to use electoral platforms to attack personalities nor use inflammatory words to trigger violence but use the platforms to promote tolerance, issue based campaigning and voting.**