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Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Director, Newspapers GCGL, speaking at the Graphic Town Hall meeting in Bolgatanga
Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Director, Newspapers GCGL, speaking at the Graphic Town Hall meeting in Bolgatanga

Six political parties commit to peaceful elections at GCGL town hall meeting in Bolga

Six political parties in the Upper East Region have pledged their commitment to peaceful elections this year.

At a well-attended town hall meeting in Bolgatanga organised by the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) yesterday, the parties agreed that ensuring peace in the elections was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders. 

They were also of the view that the December polls were a contest of ideas and so must be devoid of rancour, personal attacks and offensive language.

The political parties represented were the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People's Party (CPP), the All People's Congress (APC), the Progressive People's Party (PPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC).

A representative of each political party made a 10-minute presentation on its readiness for free and fair elections.

The theme for the town hall engagement was: "Good governance: Key to growth and development in Ghana".

Party representatives

The Upper East Regional Education Secretary of the CPP, Mr Ayumah Musah, who was the first to speak, indicated that peace could be achieved if all stakeholders worked together to prevent conflicts.

He said the CPP stood for liberty, justice, truth and freedom.

Mr Musah announced that the CPP would go on a peace march at Zebilla in the Bawku West District as part of its commitment to ensuring peaceful elections. 

The Regional Organiser of the PPP, Mr Raphael Kpinn, stated that the PPP was the only party that had peace enshrined in its motto.

"We must always disagree to agree and that is what we in the PPP have been preaching all along to our supporters. We also tell them not to beat the war drums and avoid following parochial interests," he said.

When he took his turn, the Regional Organiser of the NPP, Mr Ibrahim Bashiru, took the participants down memory lane from the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to that of the United Party (UP), the forebears of the NPP, and said over that long period, the promotion of peace had been the hallmark of the tradition.

He said the NPP was not a violent party as some people perceived.

The Deputy Youth Organiser of the Bolgatanga Central Constituency of the NDC, Mr Isaac Asore, said as a social democratic party, the NDC was people-centred and that President John Mahama was committed to peace.

Some invited guest at the Town hall meeting

"The NDC has been making strenuous efforts towards peace in this country despite the challenges," he said.

The Regional Secretary of the PNC, Mr Albert Adongo, said the party was not just paying lip service to the peace process.

For his part, the Vice Regional Chairman of the APC, Mr Richard Ayamga, stressed the need for constructive criticisms in the political environment.

He said parties should also accept criticisms in good faith.

Other stakeholders 

The Director of Newspapers of the GCGL, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, advised the political parties, the Electoral Commission (EC) and other stakeholders to play their roles as expected of them to make the elections peaceful.

He said the GCGL was interested in the peace of the country because no business could be conducted when there was no peace.

The Upper East Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Simon Yao Afeku, said there were bound to be disputes during the electioneering but cautioned political parties not to resort to violence as a means of resolving those disputes.  

Other speakers included the Upper East Regional Director of the EC, Mr James Arthur-Yeboah; the Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Pontius Pilate Aqaba Baba, and the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Sakote Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong.

Open forum

During an open forum, some of the participants pointed out the need for politicians to appreciate the achievements of successive governments with the view to ensuring continuity as a way of promoting peace.

As part of the Bolgatanga town hall meeting, a 30-minute radio discussion programme was held at A1 Radio, a private radio station in Bolgatanga.

The Political Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kobby Asmah, took part in the discussion.

 

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