Peace is our priority for Election 2020, says EC
The Electoral Commission says it is employing several strategies to drum home the need for peace before, during and after the 7 December election
Ghana News Agency (Accra) – Jean Mensa, the chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), says the Commission’s priority is to ensure peace in the conduct of the 2020 general election.
“We recognise that this year is a crucial year as we go to the polls on 7 December. What we say and do will have a positive or negative bearing on the nation. We have, therefore, resolved that our activities and words should leave a lasting and positive impact on our dear nation,” she said.
Jean Mensa was addressing the leadership and members of the Church of Pentecost (CoP) at the Church’s launch of the “Agent of Peace” campaign in Accra.
Agent of Peace is an initiative of the Church of Pentecost to educate and challenge Christians to promote peace as the nation prepares for Election 2020.
The theme of the campaign is “Seek Peace and Pursue It” (Psalm 34:14).
Integrity of electoral process
Mensa said she has presented herself to be an agent of peace in Ghana and the rest of the world and gave the assurance that there would be credible, transparent and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections.
She said the EC, in its effort to build trust, confidence and integrity in the electoral processes, has initiated programmes including “Let the Citizens Know” to provide a platform for the EC to engage directly with citizens through its media partners.
“Indeed, during the just-ended voter registration exercise, we provided citizens with biweekly updates on registration statistics per district and region, including details such as age and gender.”
Strategies
She said other strategies are being explored to drum home the need for peace before, during and after the polls.
The EC chair said every citizen, especially the youth, owed a duty to their land of birth to commit to being agents of peace. She charged media practitioners to remain the gatekeepers of the country’s democracy and instruments of truth.
“As the gateway to information, you must be decorous in your communication and must not use your platform to mislead citizens or fuel strife and confusion. It behoves you, as channels of information, to be instruments and agents of peace,” she said.
Successful elections
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, chairman of the Church of Pentecost, said the country has witnessed seven successful general elections and many by-elections, and that stakeholders need to take steps to maintain the peace.
God has been merciful to Ghana over the years, he said, which has earned the country enviable accolades.
“As we move towards the 2020 elections, we are confident that the Lord will grant the nation peace, but that can only happen if we all work towards protecting it,” he said.
“As Christians, we are enjoined to be peacemakers. The Church considered political authority as an essential element of human society. Rightly handled, politics can play a positive role in God’s purpose.”
Apostle Nyamekye advised supporters of political parties, especially the youth, to desist from using of abusive or derogatory language and to avoid needless arguments.
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