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The National Peace Council has advised political party activists to resolve to make Ghana a better place than they met it.Mr George Amoh, Director of Programmes at the Council, who gave the advice, said politicians must endeavour to maintain and improve upon the country their forefathers left for them and not to ruin it with electoral violence.
He added that Ghanaians must not allow the parties they belong to push them out normal and acceptable human behaviour since no political interest was greater than the peace and unity of Ghana.
He gave the advice on Tuesday during an engagement with political party executives in the three constituencies in the Tema region. The engagement was organized in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education and the Electoral Commission.
He appealed to them to choose the non-violent option to resolve any election related misunderstanding. He encouraged them to use laid down procedures to resolve problems as well as take advantage of the Peace Council’s model of mediation, dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy.Nana Oduro Numapau, Tema Metropolitan Electoral Officer, asked politicians to trust in the EC as the necessary measures have been put in place to ensure free and fair elections.
He said as part of reforms, his outfit would provide a photo album of recruited temporary staff to parties in order to prevent party activists from infiltrating the election system. He added that interviews and assessment exams have been done for those who applied to be election assistants to ensure that only qualified people get hired.
According to him, coalition officers who have knowledge in statistics and accounting would be recruited to collate and audit the election results at the constituency as against the previous practise of using returning officers for collating, distribution of materials and supervision.
“You need not fight at any point of the election process as there are internal mechanism to address issues.” he stated. He urged leaders of the political parties to be abreast of the electoral laws and terminologies in order to give correct and accurate information to their followers.
Miss Hajara Yemoah Anum, Senior Civic Education Officer at NCCE reminded politicians not to involve children in political activities as Article 55 (2) of the Constitution frowns on it. She pleaded with women especially not to jeopardize the lives of their young by attending rallies with them. Miss Anum cautioned party activists against forcing their employees, children and dependents to accept their political ideologies.
