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30.06.2016 General News

CDS Worried Over Campaign Insults

30.06.2016 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

THE CHIEF of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshall Samson Michael-Oje has expressed concern about the peace of the nation before, during and after the November 7 polls.

Addressing journalists at the Accra International Press Centre yesterday, the CDS pointed out that the “temperature” of the campaign ahead of the general elections was creating worry within the security setup, saying “we are not too comfortable.”

He said the armed forces' monitoring of discussions on the various electronic media outlets – radio, television and social media – among candidates of the various political parties shows that care needs to be taken to protect the peace of the country.

According to him, “given that we have gone through six successful elections, we expected that things would have improved but it appears we have not learned our lessons.”

He lamented how issues that politicians are ideally supposed to discuss at a “cool pace” are being discussed under tension.

“We believe that it may not descend into any chaos but if it does we will use the right antidotes,” the Air Marshall assured Ghanaians.

He said the armed forces shall support the police and other security agencies if need be, to safeguard the peace of Ghana.

“The army is ready to support and do what it takes to protect the country,” he said.

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'Do Good Job'
He appealed to the media to support the police and other security agencies that will be providing security for Ghanaians in this year's elections.

In his view, if the media does its work well, there shall be peace at the end of the November 7 polls.

President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Affail Monney, welcoming his guest, said the CDS's visit to GJA was a follow-up to an event organized at Burma Camp sometime back.

He intimated that the armed forces was ready to do “whatever it takes to protect the peace of this nation,” adding that “journalists are also prepared to die for the peace of the nation.”

But he cautioned that “as we approach 2016 elections, journalists must be careful about what they say or write to safeguard the peace of the nation.”

He urged that journalists must help guide the electorates; govern their behaviors before, during and after the polls.

BY Melvin Tarlue

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