Participants at a forum organized by the Centre for Democratic Development - Ghana (CDD-Ghana ) have called for the need to ensure a peaceful election.
Consequently, the stakeholders at the forum which included various political parties, the Electoral Commission(EC), the Security Agencies, the Media , traditional authorities, Religious leaders and the Physically challenged among others, pledged to play their respective roles to ensure violent free election.
The forum which was sponsored by the German Agency for International Development (GTZ) on the theme: “Preventing Electoral Violence towards consolidating electoral democracy and integrity of the 2012 election”, in the Northern Regions of Ghana.
Dr Franklin Oduro, Head of Programme and Research of CDD-Ghana, said under normal circumstances an election was supposed to be one of the easiest ways of choosing leaders and wondered why there was always anxiety, fear and panic when it comes to organizing elections in Ghana.
He expressed unhappiness over the numerous legal tussles between the EC and some Political parties in Courts saying that was likely to affect the election if they were not settled amicably.
He said “there is also the urgent need on the part of the EC to ensure that the recent Biometric registration that was conducted in the country is certified”.
Speaking on the Topic: “Towards Peaceful Election 2012-Lessons from 2008 in the Upper East Region”, the Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr. Bruce Ayisi, said political matters were not the preserve of the EC saying it was unfair to claim that the EC was in bed with some political parties.
He said to have a peaceful election, there was the need to sensitize the citizenry against political and electoral violence saying “failure to make proper interventions would have a multiplier effect on the electoral environment resulting in undermining the electoral process”.
Naba Johnson Awuni, Chief of Yorogo, entreated the participants to educate the youth to stay way from being engaged in violence by Politicians.
