LET’S NOT GIVE OXYGEN TO FAKE NEWS - NCCE CHAIRMAN

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has addressed the media in a press briefing to commence the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) activities ahead of the 2024 elections as is done during elections and rolled out at the regional and district levels. This programme buttressed the Commission’s theme for the year, “Together We Can Build Ghana; So, Get Involved”. The event took place at the Head Office of the Commission in Accra.

Ms. Kathleen Addy, Chairman of the Commission, said that the IPDCs enable institutional collaboration to address conflict resolution and electoral violence before, during, and after elections. This, she emphasised, is crucial for enhancing peace and security during elections.

Ms. Addy espoused some of the responsibilities of the Committees such as defusing tensions that could escalate into violence; engaging stakeholders in the resolution of inter and intra-party disagreements that could affect the upcoming elections; organising social events involving political parties to enhance tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and monitor and resolve electoral violations to maintain peace and order.

Ms. Addy then unveiled the four (4) focal areas for elections 2024; the use of hate speech and incitements, religious intolerance and divisiveness in campaign messages, fake news (misinformation and disinformation) and vote-buying.

“It looks like the more we advance in democracy, the more rampant vote-buying is. Remember that the money comes from somewhere and will return with interest. This is wrong on all counts and illegal”, she remarked. Ms. Addy appealed to the media to use their platforms to hold political actors accountable, instead of spreading hate speech, incitements and insults. By this, she admonished all not to give oxygen to fake news so that together we can build a better Ghana.

Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu (Office of the National Chief Imam), cautioned the media to be mindful of political discussions and their repercussions on the nation. He added that “no politician is worth the blood of any citizen. This year, let no blood be spilt on our land because of violence”. Sheikh Shaibu opined that vote-buying is a means to exploit the electorate and corrupt them, “you sell your God-given sovereignty instead of selecting the one most worthy to get the job done.

Manye Naa Badu Adiabga I (Abelenkpe and Dzorwulu Traditional Stool) stated that early warning signs and robust systems help avert electoral violence, reiterating that prevention is better than cure.

Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, Deputy Director, in charge of Operations, appealed to the media to follow the Commission’s IPDC activities at the grassroots and urged all to name and shame politicians who promote vote-buying.

NCCE Directors present were Lucille Hewlette Annan (Esq.), Commission Secretary; Dora Hammond, Director of Administration; Dr Henrietta Asante Sarpong, Director of Research and Gender; Monica Mamattah, Director of Finance; Dr. Imurana Mohammed and Modesta Annie Sapati (Director and Deputy Director of Programmes) and Rebecca Colecraft, the Assistant Director of Programmes.

Other personalities present were the mass media, Ms Melody Azinim (Peace Governance Analyst), Mr George Amoh (the Executive Secretary, National Peace Council), and Col. M.Y Borbi (Director, Public Education – Ghana Armed Forces).

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