The National Enforcement Body (NEB) of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct, has urged all political parties to adhere to the code they all acceded to before last Friday's Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC) who gave the advice during a media briefing on Thursday said: "The NEB wishes to commend political parties, the electorate and all stakeholders for their general comportment and compliance with the provisions of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct during the 2012 General Election."
He said the Body had closely followed the events before, during and after the elections, and while commending the parties involved, NEB is concerned about the prevailing tension that has followed the event.
Rev Asante said various challenges attended the election process and drew attention of the Political Parties to the provisions of the Code of Conduct with particular reference to paragraphs two, three and four:
"All Parties and Candidates shall openly restrain their members and supporters from reacting violently to election results and shall use all available means of mass communication to restrain their members and supporters who react violently to election results.
"All Political Parties and Candidates undertake not to taunt, insult and humiliate their opponents who they defeat in an election and to celebrate their victory with decorum.
"All Political Parties and Candidates accept to use only the due process of law to address grievances they may have in respect of an election," Rev. Asante added.
He therefore reminded Political Parties of their commitments under the Code in the democratic imperatives as referred to in paragraph six:
"Political Parties and Candidates shall at all times avoid defamatory, inflammatory and foul language in all forms. Provocative, derogatory and insulting attacks on the other parties, personalities, and ethnic and religious groupings by way of communication, verbal or non-verbal, shall be avoided at all times," he said.
Rev Asante said NEB is urging the media houses to ensure that their platforms are not used to heighten tension through the use of vitriolic and intemperate language by those who express their opinions through their forum.
"The NEB enjoins all Political Parties and the…public to continue to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes the peace of our nation," he stated.
NEB members who appended their signatures to the statement include Rev Asante, Mr Justice Emile Short, Rev Father Patrick M. Amos, Mrs Hillary Gbedemah, Mr Abdullai Fulamba, Mr Danny Anan, Mr Atik Mohammed, Mr Kwame Jantuah, Mr William Doworkpor, Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra (Rtd), Mr David Kanga, Ameer Maulvi Wahab Adams and Mr Ransford Tetteh.