Representatives of political parties to ensure peaceful polls

Representative of political parties in Parliament, on Wednesday resolved to educate their followers on the need to ensure peace during and after the General Elections in December.

The decision was taken at the inauguration of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct Regional Enforcement Bodies for the Upper West, and Northern Regions, in Tamale.

It was organized by the Ghana Political Party Programme and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

The 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct is a set of rules, which guide political parties operations to ensure free, fair and credible election.

The bodies made up of representatives of political parties, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Catholic Secretariat, the Electoral Commission and non-governmental organizations would report to the National Enforcement Body.

The initiative is aimed at guiding the activities of parties to promote multi-party democracy in the country.

Brigadier General (Rtd) Francis Agyemfra, Visiting Senior Fellow at the IEA, said the three regional bodies were required to monitor political campaigns, rallies and other activities in the regions.

He said the bodies were expected to investigate allegations of political abuses at the regional level, and submit reports to the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct National Enforcement Body in Accra.

Brig. Gen (Rtd) Agyemfra said after investigations, the regional body could recommend sanctions against the offenders.

Touching on Ghana’s electoral process, he said Election 2012 promised to be keenly contested and would be a test for democracy in the country.

Brig. Gen )Rtd) Agyemfra said, since 1993 to date, the country’s electoral process had not been entirely smooth, and it posed a critical challenge as the various parties were yet to realize that democracy could only thrive when there was tolerance.

He called on the media to be responsible, ensure fair reportage and desist from allowing their channels to be used to inflame passions.

“The Partisan press is promoting division and acrimonious politics as they continue to wreck the reputation of innocent persons by publishing. unsubstantiated statements and falsehood,” Brig. Gen (Rtd) Agyemfra said.

Mr Haruna Husein Northern Regional Director of the NCCE, chairman of the Regional Enforcement Body, said the group would ensure that political parties abide by the tenets of the 2012 Political Parties Code of Conduct to ensure peace.

“We are mindful of the violence flash points so we will make sure the parties educate their supports to tolerate each other’s view and live in harmony”, he said.**