NGO launches project to join peace-building efforts

By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, Sept.1, GNA - The Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), a human rights media advocacy non-governmental organisation, has joined efforts geared at building peace in the country before, during and after the 2016 elections with the launching of its 'Change for Peace Education (CAPE) project.

The Project seeks a timely intervention to manage the slightest signs of potential risks of tension and violence among the youth, before it escalated.

Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of GLOMEF told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the project seeks to do this by controlling the engagement of the youth in activities that contribute to election violence and crisis.

It would also mobilize the target group to occupy, redirect and empower them with the required skills for peace-building and leadership development.

Mr Ahenu stressed the need for the EC to ensure that another opportunity is provided for the re-registry of the eligible voters whose names were deleted from the electoral role for registering with NHIS cards, in order not to disenfranchise them.

'Voting is a civic right and the deletion of the names of the affected voters could take away that right from them', he added.

Mr Ahenu stressed that the project would sensitize and educate the youth to be abreast with various electoral reforms, laws and election processes.

The GLOMEF CEO urged Journalists and media practitioners to guard against sensationalism and asked followers of the political parties to avoid statements that could infuriate opponents.

Mr. Michael Amponsah, a former Deputy Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), emphasised that "election is not do or die affair" stressing that the 1992 constitution provided rights for every Ghanaian to join any political party of his or her choice.

He said it required a collective and shared responsibility to protect national peace and asked all stakeholders to contribute for a violence-free election in December 7 and beyond.

GNA