3 weeks ago
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The clergy must eschew partisan politics and election prophecies to help prevent tension in the country says the Secretary to the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs Lucille Hewlett Annan.
According to her, the pulpit politics and election prophecies create tension that have the tendency to cause problems if not avoided.
Mrs Annan who represented the chairperson of the NCCE, Ms 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 yesterday.
The three-day event is on the theme “Election 2024: The role of the church in enhancing the electoral process and fostering peace”, and being attended by about 600 participants including preachers, laymen and laywomen from across the country.
Mrs Annan mentioned four thematic areas the NCCE was focusing on: money in politics, violence, hate speech and misinformation.
She called on the electorates to sustain the peace of the country and urged the churches to facilitate dialogues in conflict resolution.
Mrs Annan urged the public to be tolerant, be circumspect in information they share and do not allow religion to separate them as a country.
She called on the church to bring the youth on board to preach unifying message in the country.
The Deputy Chairman in charge of Corporate Services of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Eric Bossman Asare, who represented the EC chairperson, Mrs 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.
He assured the electorates of the EC’s determination to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
Dr Bossman Asare said the EC was collaborating with the security agencies to ensure violence-free during and after elections.
“We have instructed all field officers to ensure that the collation centres were conducive for the elections,” he added.
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 admonished us as Christians to sustain the peace,” he added.
Rt Rev. Dr Dogbe implored political candidates not to speak evil against their opponents during their campaigns, emphasizing that “Political aspirants must be careful with their utterances during this elections”, adding that “it is sad that foul language was used by some aspirants which is triggering violence among supporters.”
The parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress of Effutu Constituency, Mr James Kofi Annan, called on churches to be neutral in their activities to sustain peace in the country.
He affirmed of his commitment to ensure peace and stability in the country.
FROM ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI, WINNEBA
