Bolgatanga, July 16, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has asked Political Parties to ensure that they adhere strictly to their code of conduct, especially before, during and after the 2012 election.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Bolgatanga, the Regional Director of the Commission, Mr Peter Mensah stressed that it was incumbent on all political parties to observe the code.

He explained that the political parties’ code of conduct required them to ensure that their leaders and members behaved responsibly without indulging in negative actions that could result in chaos.

“Political Parties should be reminded that they could be held responsible for creating panic, disturbances and confusion in the country and must bear in mind that they cannot be allowed to destabilize the peace the country is enjoying.”

He indicated that Ghana had made significant gains on the democratic front and that this should not be allowed to be toyed with by political parties, stressing that the parties had the responsibility to contribute positively to enhance the country’s democracy.

He appealed to leaders of political parties to school and advise their members to carry out their duties without creating disturbances and suggested that pragmatic sanctions be adopted to punish those who would violate the code of conduct.

Mr Mensah said his outfit had already embarked on a programme which included giving talks on local FM radio stations, geared towards ensuring peaceful elections.

“Apart from that, Public Education Officers from the Commission have been touring most of the communities in the Region to educate them on peace and ensuring a peaceful election”, he added.

He said the Regional Directorate of the NCCE would also revive the Inter-party Dialogue Committee by which the Commission would invite the various political parties periodically to draw the attention of members to the need to go about their activities devoid of violence and conflict.

Mr Dominic Akugre, officer in-charge of the Public Education at the NCCE advised Political parties to exercise restraint and tolerate each others’ views.

He stated that the Regional Directorate of the NCCE was also embarking on education programmes to sensitize stakeholders on the need to make the Unit Committees and Area Councils more functional since most of them were non-functional.

He mentioned the lack of motorbikes to enable NCCE staff to go to the field to perform their duties as a major problem confronting the Regional Directorate, and appealed to Government and other organizations to assist the Commission.