NPC Stakeholders pushes for Stronger Social Cohesion
The National Peace Council (NPC) and its partners have made a strong case for a stronger democracy and social cohesion through dialogue at the ongoing Post 2024 Elections Evaluation in Koforidua.
The ongoing dialogue which brought together stakeholders and discussants are dissecting and assessing the outcome of the 2024 general elections, ascertain the best practices and challenges, build consensus and seek recommendations.
Themed: “Dialoguing for a Stronger Democracy and Social Cohesion,” the participants are deliberating on ways to build consensus among stakeholders to strengthen mechanisms for election integrity, greater national cohesion, political tolerance, and peacebuilding for national development.
Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Peace Council, who decried the incidents of intimidation, destruction and seizure of property, vandalism and invasion of public facilities in some constituencies during the just ended election, charged the participants to reflect on ways to strengthen our democracy.
He said despite commendable gains in democratic consolidation with peaceful transfers of power, judicial resolution of electoral disputes, and vibrant political pluralism, the persistence of election-related violence poses a serious threat to our national cohesion and democratic resilience.
The Chairman, noting that “Peace is not permanent, it is perishable, fragile and therefore must be preserved” stressed that “Our democracy must never be reduced to a winner-takes-all contest where the stakes are so high that violence becomes an option”.
“We must invest more in civic education, youth political dialogue, and the creation of nonviolent pathways for political expression”, he recommended.
In her address, Ms. Barrie Lynne Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) said UNOWAS remained fully committed to its close collaboration with the National Peace Council’s efforts to strengthen and protect Ghana’s democratic gains as well as to share its achievements as a model for the West African subregion and beyond.
She said the “conference is a valuable opportunity for reflection on consolidating good practices, promoting healthy electoral competition, and managing results in a peaceful environment upheld by commitment to inclusion and dialogue”.
Other speakers and discussants called for the strengthen efforts to put in the right measures to sustains ensure inclusivity, equitable participation in political and governance structures to ensure fair playing field for all.
