Reject politicians who incite violence - Light Foundation
An Islamic NGO, the Light Foundation, has called on Ghanaians, particularly people living in Muslim communities, to reject politicians who recruit and use them as weapons of political violence.
Speaking at a press soiree in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Sheikh Ali Abubakar Napari, said the country had over the years conducted successful elections that had generally been regarded as peaceful.
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Sheikh Napari called on the electorates to name and shame politicians who incited and called people to violence.
“Everybody has a role to play in ensuring peace during and after the general election”, he said.
“We cannot lose our guard and conduct business as usual, we have to work towards building peace to ensure that we do not come out of this year’s election scathed,” he added.
Advocacy
The Light Foundation, known for its advocacy on civic rights and responsibilities of the citizens, also supports the vulnerable in society.
The Islamic scholar said building a peaceful society was essential for the sustenance of the country’s democracy.
He called on the public and opinion leaders to identify the country’s flash points and intensify public education and awareness in those areas to ensure successful and peaceful elections.
Peace campaigns
To this end, the organisation plans to embark on peace campaigns in various parts of the country before, during and after the elections to educate the public, especially the youth, to desist from engaging in acts that have the tendency to undermine elections in the country.
On the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, he called on the authorities to intensify public education on the modes of transmission in order to flatten the curve.
Rising cases
He said the rising number of cases is due to the fact that many people do not believe that the virus was real and so ignored all the safety protocols.
“There is a general non adherence to any of the safety protocols in our communities and that is because not many people believe in the existence of the virus”, he said.