Global Dream Foundation launches campaign for peaceful polls
Barely three months to Election 2016, Global Dream Foundation, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), has launched a campaign dubbed: "Do the right thing, WAGE PEACE 2016”, to prevent violence as the country prepares for the December 7 general election.
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The campaign is aimed at sensitising Ghanaians to refrain from violent acts before, during and after the elections.
The Founder of Global Dream Foundation, Mr Benjamin Larbi, said at the launch that the campaign had to be initiated because the political atmosphere had heated up and was prone to violence as a result of the elections.
He said the campaign would include awareness of the need to obey and be polite to members of the security agencies, and also a call to use temperate language during the electioneering in order to avert violence.
The Platform
The “Do the right thing: WAGE PEACE 2016” campaign provides an over-arching platform to bring together all stakeholders and advocates peaceful, violence-free elections.
"I believe that what we are doing here today and what we will be doing in the coming weeks before, during and after the elections will greatly impact on the desired violence-free elections, irrespective of who wins the polls," Mr Larbi said.
He said the campaign had become necessary to give Ghanaians confidence in the possibility of violence-free elections.
“The idea of bringing different stakeholders together to push this message is to produce the biggest collection for peace where Ghanaians can see different aspects of the nation on one platform with one voice and one message — Ghanaians must do the right thing; wage peace before, during and after the elections,” he explained.
All hands on deck
He said the campaign would be held in the various markets, churches, mosques, schools, at the stadia during football matches and lorry parks across the 10 regions of Ghana.
He called on corporate Ghana, the public sector, the international community and all Ghanaians to endorse the campaign by putting it on air and supporting other activities of the campaign.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, the Founder of World as One Foundation, Mr Conscience Tuokumah, said most Ghanaian were afraid of a possible breakout of violence in the period of the elections.
"We have a sacred duty, as leaders of various spheres, to advocate peaceful, violence-free elections for our compatriots. If the process is marred by violence, we all suffer in the long run,” he said, adding: "It is in this vein that I call on you to support this campaign.”
