The Bia East district office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held its maiden Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting in Adabokrom, the district capital.

The IPDC serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among political parties, stakeholders, and citizens to address electoral concerns, promote tolerance, and mitigate potential conflicts.

Welcoming participants to the meeting, the district director of the commission, Mr. Augustine Quaicoe, said the basic objective of the IPDC is to ensure peace in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections and beyond.

He indicated that the onus is on the committee to strategize in order to carry effective educational messages to the people to help meet its objective.

Mr. Quaicoe said the educational campaign is hinged on the theme “Together We Can Build Ghana, "so get involved, and will focus on key issues like money in politics, misinformation and disinformation, religious tolerance, and electoral violence."

In a brief remark, Nana Alphonse Sarpong, Saanahene of Adabokrom, advised the youth to eschew electoral violence since it has the potential to jeopardize their future.

The Bia East district police commander, Superintendent Joseph Oprah, spoke about the Public Order Act 491 of 1994, adding that the law makes provision for the maintenance of law and order during elections and beyond.

Detective Sergeant Abraham Mawon of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service admonished political parties to notify their outfits before organizing public events.

The acting Imam of Adabokrom, Fuseini Haruna, stressed the need for both Muslim and Christian leaders to carry the message of peace to their followers.

The 30 member committee, which comprises registered political parties, political party affiliated groups and youth wings, faith and community-based organizations, civil society groups, the Electoral Commission and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice CHRAJ, security services, and traditional authorities, elected Nana Tawiah of Asem Nyinaakrom as its chairman.