With less than a Month to the December 7th General Elections, a lot activities are being organized geared towards ensuring a successful, credible, peaceful and transparent polls.
Against this background, the Media Foundation for West Africa MFWA organized a one day forum held under the Theme: Radio, Hate Speech and Election Related Violence in Africa:
The Forum brought together participants from the Government, Political Parties, Academia, Civil Society Organization, the Clergy and the Media to brainstorm on the best ways to ensure decent campaign speeches and violence free elections.
The Forum also has the objectives to highlight the potentially negative ramification of intemperate expressions and irresponsible media conduct in Africa.
In his address Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, called on politicians to ensure the success of the forthcoming General Elections. Democracy calls for competition of ideas and issues rather than attacking each other.
Ghana’s reputation as the beacon of hope of Africa’s democracy can only be ensured through decent campaign speeches, exchange of positive ideas rather than politics of insults and acrimony.
He advised Ghanaian journalists to aspire to gain a kind of good recognition associated with good journalistic practices. Ghanaian political reporters should be accurate and fair in their reportage.
On his part Mr. George Lawson of the NDC said his party is committed to ensuring a peaceful, transparent polls in December. The ruling party would want the media to cover all aspects of the elections.
Mr. Kwame Gentua of the Convention People’s Party CPP noted that the responsibility to ensure decent speeches prior to the polls lies heavily on the political parties. He recommends for Parties to sanction any member who goes on radio to make any speech that has the tendency of sparkling violence in the country.
Mr. Mike Ocquaye Junior reiterated the New Patriotic Parties stand to ensure that the upcoming election goes on peacefully without any setback. The NPP decided to participate in the Forum because they believed in peace.
The NPP under Nana Addo’s leadership is more committed to the peace of this country before, during and after the December 7th General Elections. He charged stakeholders of the polls to be more vigilant to ensure fairness for all contestants.
Prof Kwami Karikari, the MFWA Boss on his part thanked participants for taking part in the Forum. Peace is need in Ghana not only before the elections but during and after. He thanked Star Ghana and Ibis Ghana Foundations respectively for their tremendous support to his outfit.