Western North Inter Party Dialogue C’ttee inaugurated
The Western North Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education has inaugurated a 40-member Regional Inter Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) to handle electoral-related issues before, during and after the 2020 general election.
The committee will focus on mediation and resolution of petty conflicts by monitoring the enforcement of the electoral rules and regulations, promoting peaceful security situations, identifying issues that had the potential to trigger electoral conflict and also promoting information sharing to avoid rumour-mongering.
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It will also promote discourse to mitigate misinformation and misrepresentation between political parties and key stakeholders and provide opportunity for all parties to air their concerns and problems.
The committee, which is chaired by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Akrasi Mensah, the Deputy Western North Police Commander, will also be expected to organise interactive inter-party fora at the district, constituency and ward/zonal levels, initiate and sustain dialogue for stakeholders in the resolution of conflicts that have the potential to affect the upcoming elections and deepen collaboration among the NCCE, EC, political parties, the youth, security agencies, district assemblies, chiefs, traditional authorities, civil society and community leaders in the promotion of non-violence.
Good governance
At the inauguration ceremony, the Western North Regional Director of NCCE, Mr Sam Awudu Dramani, noted that a key indicator of democracy and good governance was a credible and peaceful election.
He said although Ghana had chalked up some enviable feats such as the successful conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections, peaceful transition and transfer of political power from a ruling party to an opposition party, spots of violence could not be taken for granted.
“As a result of Ghana’s record, there is the need to deepen and consolidate the democratic tenets and credentials.
"Ghana’s situation, therefore, provides enough justification for the formation of Inter-Party Dialogue Committees (IPDCs) that will act as a buffer zone in the constituencies to stem the tide of unnecessary suspicions and anxiety among political parties especially, now that activities of political party vigilantes seem to have gained grounds," he added.
The Western North Regional Minister, Mr Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, who inaugurated the committee, urged its members to work diligently to ensure that the December general election was violence-free, especially in the Western North Region. — GNA
