The Wa East District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held an inter-party dialogue committee meeting for political parties amongst other stakeholders in the area to reignite dialogue amongst them to ensure peaceful coexistence for national cohesion.
Luke D. Wiedong the district director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) Wa east said in a welcome address that the meeting was to deepen the existing collaboration between NCCE and its stakeholders , the political parties, youth, security agencies, district assemblies, traditional authorities, civil society, and community leaders to ensure peaceful security in the district.
Mr. Wiedong added that the objective of the committee meeting was to build a unifying body that could promote peace and resolve conflicts before, during, and after the 2024 general elections to enhance socio-political issues, economic stability, and stability in the district.
Concluding his speech, he cautioned electorates that their choice of words will determine how peace the election will be. He also thanked all stakeholders for their indubitable contributions during the meeting, adding that he was so overwhelm per the number of participants he has seen coming to grace the meeting and making it a success.
The day’s meeting, held at Funsi, was also to reinforce the role of political parties as key stakeholders for ensuring peace and security in the district as well as to reignite dialogue on inter and intra political party grievances handling procedures.
ACP Abubakari Suleman, the district commander of the Ghana Police Service took participants through monitoring and reporting threats vulnerabilities and what violent extremism was and the need for citizens to follow the principles of the 1992 Constitution and desist from acts that could lead to or cause violence in their communities during electioneering year.
The district commander underscored the importance of peace in the development of the country emphasising that, “Our communities need peace for development to take place.”
He encouraged participants to tolerate one another to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence in their communities.
He expressed the need for residents to observe the Public Order Act when embarking on public actions to ensure law and order in the area.
ACP Suleman also, took participants through the topic: “ways to detect youth radicalization and signs of recruitment”.
Speaking on mediation and resolution of local conflicts, the Commander emphasised the need for community surveillance, awareness creation at worship centres’, neighbourhood watch, and community patrol amongst others to deal with crimes in the communities to ensure peace during, before and after the 2024 general election.
The Assistant Commander of Police (ACP) said the security agencies were putting in efforts to maintain peace before, during, and after elections and therefore encouraged the NCCE to intensify education on the importance of peace and other national issues to the citizens.
Mr. Baaka Aworo who represented the church of Pentecost in Funsi called for tolerance among the people, saying that irrespective of their ethnic background, they must tolerate one another as Ghanaians are one people with a common destiny. Good governance and natural justice, which he said were very important in ensuring peace in the district.
Some participants also identified lack of accountability, injustice, no rule of law, lack of trust on the parts of security agencies, the influence of political parties to retain power or to come to power, get rich quick attitude of youth amongst others as likely to cause violent extremism in communities.
They, therefore, called for fairness, equal access to opportunities, and equality before the law to promote peaceful coexistence in communities.
The meeting was attended by political party executives, religious leaders, security agencies, the Electoral Commission, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), People with Disabilities, youth and women groups.
