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The Atiwa East District NCCE, in collaboration with UNESCO, organized a forum to educate young people about peace and tolerance.
The forum brought together representatives of political parties, Teachers’ Unions, Craft Groups, Muslim and Christian youth groups, the National Service Scheme, the media, among others.
Mr. Savior Ametefe, NCCE’s Atiwa East District Director explained that the purpose of the forum was to educate youth and equip them with skills about nonviolence so that they can participate effectively and ethically in nation building and peace processes.
According to him, studies have shown that young people are often the perpetrators of electoral violence and other acts related to violence and most of them act out of ignorance of various regulations such as the Public Order Law of 1994 (Law 491), the Vigilantism and Related Crimes Law of 2019 (Law 999), as well as the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and the roadmap to put an end to the threat of self-defense groups of political parties to which the main political parties in the country.
Ametefe emphasized that peace before, during and after the elections is very important for cohesion and national development. In addition, he stated that the NCCE, whose mandate is to educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities, has sensitized the public to appreciate the need for peace and to conduct themselves within electoral laws and other public order statutes during general elections. 2020.
However, there were some violent clashes in some districts, some of which resulted in deaths. “Once there has been a disagreement with the results and the Supreme Court ruling of the petitioner, it is important that we continue to preach peace and tolerance and educate young people about complaint handling procedures and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. “, He said.
Atiwa East District Executive Director Hon. Kwabena Panin Nkansah, in his keynote address, recounted how wars and instability destroy the future of youth. He highlighted how some countries like Rwanda faced serious problems due to violence related to political transitions.
He admonished young people to protect the peace we enjoy in Ghana. Hon Nkansah advised young people to desist from political violence, as injuries and losses from participating in such acts will be their responsibility.
He emphasized that the District Assembly is committed to fighting violence in the District. He concluded by stating that peace is not the absence of war and referred to Scripture with advice on how to love your neighbor as yourself.
Ms. Agnes A. Magisi, NCCE Regional Program Director, moderated a film on violence. The videos showed the results of political violence and how it devastates the country. Some videos showed the violence that occurred during the Ayawaaso West Wuogon farewell elections and the demonstrations before and after the elections.
He pointed out the effects that such actions brought to young people and expressed how most of the time the direct beneficiaries of power do not go through any of these situations.
Madame Agnes stated that the crises in Rwanda began on a tribal basis. She took lessons from Yen Ara Yen Asaase Ni, a patriotic song that inspires the need to protect the country as we have nowhere else to call home.
Anyinam District Police Commander DSP Daniel Wiafe explained the Public Order Act of 1994 and how it guides the organization of special programs and events.
He affirmed that there are laws to prevent the scope of the programs, the time in which they will be carried out and, in the worst case, prevent an event from being carried out with a court order.
He cited cases where police have helped prevent chaos from escalating in the district.
DSP Wiafe called on the political parties to respect the decision of the Police at all times and stop labeling them as prejudicial when the orders to enforce the laws do not favor them.
The Eastern Regional Director for the Peace Council, Prince Albert Koomson, gave a lecture on the Ghana Code of Conduct roadmap. He explained that both the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party have signed the code and their followers must be vigilant and not do anything that compromises the law or they will be held responsible for their actions.
Mr. Prince Koomson defined Vigilantism and its scope. He emphasized the fact that ACT 999 is current law and carries a minimum jail sentence of 10 years if the offender is found to have violated it. He indicated that political parties use the strength and power of youth for their selfish gain with promises they cannot keep.
He advised young people not to fall into the cunning ways they devise to gain power. He told the young people how united most politicians who act as fierce enemies are behind the camera and proposed that they not be fooled into inciting violence in any way.
Questions on the topic were answered and the forum participants divided into three groups for a collaborative activity.
NCCE Deputy Regional Director, Mr. Augustine Bosroatsi chaired the discussion.
In the end, the youth were able to find factors that help in nation-building, the negative effects of the activities of political party vigilantes, and threats to national cohesion and peaceful elections.
The participants pledged to condemn all acts of vigilantism, promote peace, and educate members of their political parties, various associations, and friends about what they were educated about.
