PEN warns against hate speech, intimidation

The Ghanaian Centre of PEN International, a worldwide association of writers and a leading advocate for the freedom of expression and human rights, on Wednesday joined various groups and individuals to call for violence-free elections in December.

It served notice that it was “Taking note of and documenting all the reported cases of intimidation, violence, hate language and impunity to be used as evidence at the International Criminal Court or any other international tribunal if Ghana’s political leaders fail in their duty of assuring violence-free elections and lead the country to bloodshed”.

This was contained in a statement issued in Accra by Alhaji Harruna Attah, President and Mr Mackay Anim-Appiah, Executive Director of Ghana Pen Centre.

The association expressed its appreciation to the numerous civil society organisations campaigning for free, fair and violence-free elections.

“We have also noticed with encouragement the call by political parties, their leaders and other opinion leaders for the elections to be violence-free.”

It said National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) was doing a particularly good job with its campaign in the Ghanaian media to ensure that the elections pass off peacefully.

However, the association said, it was concerned about reports of intimidation, violence, use of hate language and impunity all across the country.

“We are therefore calling on the relevant authorities, the Government, Electoral Commission, security agencies and political parties to investigate these reports thoroughly and take appropriate action(s) without delay, that would send a clear message of “zero tolerance” to trouble-makers,” the association said.

“As believers in and defenders of the freedom of expression, we are not unmindful of the harm words can often do when used in certain contexts, so we call on the media especially, to rise above petty partisanship and use of language of hate because should anything go awry, they would be as culpable as the politicians and made to face the law,” it added.**