Eschew partisan politics, election prophecies to prevent tension - Clergy told

The Secretary to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Lucille Hewlett Annan, has urged the clergy to eschew partisan politics and election prophecies to help prevent tension in the country ahead of the 2024 general elections.

According to her, pulpit politics and election prophecies create tension that has the tendency to cause problems if not avoided.

Hewlett Annan, who represented the chairperson of the NCCE, Kathleen Addy, said this at the 2nd consultative forum of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Western West Africa Episcopal District (WWAED) at Winneba in the Central Region on October 24, 2024.

The three-day event is on the theme “Election 2024: The Role of the Church in Enhancing the Electoral Process and Fostering Peace,” and is being attended by about 600 participants, including preachers, laymen, and laywomen from across the country.

Annan mentioned four thematic areas the NCCE was focusing on: money in politics, violence, hate speech, and misinformation.

The Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, who represented the EC chairperson, Jean Mensa, said with the current population of about 33.2 million Ghanaians, there were at least 18.8 million on the voter’s register, an indication that the EC was ensuring no one was disenfranchised.

Dr. Bossman Asare stated that the EC had completed most of its processes, such as exhibition, nomination, and currently printing.

“We have instructed all field officers to ensure that the collation centres are conducive for the elections,” he stated.

The Presiding Bishop of WWAED, Right Reverend Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe, urged electorates to be ambassadors of peace in all that they do.

“Ghana is the only country we have, and the scriptures admonish us as Christians to sustain the peace,” he said.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Dogbe implored political candidates not to speak evil against their opponents during their campaigns.

“Political aspirants must be careful with their utterances during these elections. It is sad that foul language used by some aspirants is triggering violence among supporters,” he said.

The parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress of Effutu Constituency, James Kofi Annan, called on churches to be neutral in their activities to sustain peace in the country.

He affirmed his commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the country.