National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has reactivated its Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) to foster peaceful 2020 elections.
The Committee is responsible for providing effective key stakeholders platform to engage with political parties and also put in strategies geared towards achieving free, fair, and peaceful elections in the upcoming December 2020.
Mr Issaka Zitor, the Savannah regional NCCE director said credible and peaceful elections were critical components of democracy and good governance and called on the key stakeholders to work closely towards it.
Mr Zitor said the NCCE and it’s partners have formed the municipal and district assemblies IPDCs across the Savannah region and, have tasked them to ensure constant engagement with stakeholders to make sure there is peace before, during and after the December elections.
He noted that a survey conducted by the NCCE on revealed that majority of Ghanaians want the next administration to invest massively in Education, Employment and Health as the main derivers of the nation building.
Roads construction, Social services, Agriculture, Women and children needs and infrastructure development were the middle demands of Ghanaians.
Information and Communication Technology, Sports and Environmental and climate change issues were the third pressing needs of Ghanaians.
He explained that the IPDC was dormant because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The committee has not been able to continue with its planned activities. In December 2019 the regional IPDC was formed. In January 2020, first meeting was held where action plan was drawn to show what should be done to promote and sustain peace to fasten the development of the Savannah region.
The NCCE with support from the European Union is ensuring that IPDC are reactivate after Covid-19 and form municipal and district ones as well to promote peace.
The functions of the IPDC among other things is, to promote peace and resolve conflicts before, during, and after the elections.
The Committee is also expected to provide effective platform for key stakeholders to engage the various political parties on maintaining the peace of the region
The IPDC will also educate and monitor the activities of the political parties, their supporters and the electoratea to ensure that such activities and behaviours are in conformity with the law for achieving violent free elections.
On Parliamentary candidates debate, he disclosed that Damongo Constituency in the West Gonja municipality of the Savannah region will have it’s turn on November 28, 2020, at the Damongo SHS assembly hall.
The Member of Parliament and NDC Parliamentary candidate Adam Mutawakilu Garlus, Independent candidate, David Tiki Dange and NPP’s Samuel Abu Jinapor are battling to win the seat to represent the constituents in the 8th Parliament.
The Bole-Bamboi constituency will have it’s Parliamentary debate on Wednesday 25th November, 2020.
The debate is to offer opportunity for the candidates to explain to the electorates what they have in stock for them when offered the opportunity to represent them in Parliament.
The West Gonja municipal NCCE Director Janet said her outfit is making all the necessary arrangements to make the constituency produce one of the best Parliamentary candidates debate in the region. She said letters for the venue, political parties and other stakeholders have been duly served and all candidates contacted.
The regional Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCOp E. Larbi disclosed that 400 Police officers will be deployed to the region on 7th December, 2020. He asked for corporation from political parties and all stakeholders so that the elections will be violent free and assured that the police are well prepared for the elections.
The representative of the Electoral Commission, Ahmed Mohammed stated that the EC will conduct one of the best elections in the history of Ghana. He said election equipments have been received, ballot papers received and the EC is currently training all officials to help build their capacities for the big day, across Savannah region. Covid-19 ambassadors are also undertaking the training to help mitigate the spread of the virus.
Mr Ahmed called for peace from all Stakeholders saying “peace is a shared responsibility”.
The Chairman for the IPDC, Chief Tolondepewura Ahmed Monor appealed to all to do, live and act peace. To him this is the only way we can have peaceful elections.
Chief Monor as affectionately called said “good candidates market themselves” and it is not by law that all Ghanaians must vote for one political party. Politics is like football, the fans go to stadium together and return in peace, he added.
The PRO and Manager for Damongo based Communication Radio, PAD FM 95.1mhz, Mathew Zaabelle revealed that PAD FM will broadcst the debate live free of charge. The radio station will collaborate with right stakeholders to organize peaceful elections.
Political parties leadership, traditional and religious leaders, heads of departments, security agencies among others attended the program.
Source: Padfm.com.gh – Abdulai Zulkaninu
( 0242381890).
Tags: IPDCNCCESavannah region
