The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has embarked on a series of sensitisation and education activities aimed at re-awakening dialogue among political parties and other stakeholderson peaceful co-existence, national cohesion and inclusive participation.
Held in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region in collaboration with theInter Party Dialogue Committee, it was organised with support from the Ministry of National Security on the theme: ‘Empowering Ghanaians to Stand for National Cohesion and Inclusive Participation’.
Addressing participants, Deputy Central Regional Director of the NCCE, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, stated that unity among the citizenry promoted social development, saying “unguided desires on the part of some political leaders, religious and cultural differences has threatened national cohesion and inclusive participation for a long time”.
Making references to the massacre in Sierra Leone where people were rendered homeless and properties destroyed as a result of election disputes, Alhaji Mohammed, noted that it was important for members of the Inter Party Dialogue Committee to be extra vigilant with the activities of people who lived in the communities, especially new residents and urged them not to hesitate to report any suspected criminal to the police.
Touching on the role of IPDC in ensuring peaceful co-existence, he said all 250 districts in the country had the committee in place to promote tolerance among political parties and described the Committee as a grievance handling mechanism focused on promoting peace, unity, harmony, cohesion and inclusiveness in the country.
He also called on traditional authorities and religious leaders to join in the campaign of promoting national peace, unity and inclusiveness.
The Central Regional Director of the NCCE, Nicholas Ofori Boateng, in his remarks, bemoaned some religious bodies who were supposed to preach against violence but were rather caught fighting each other for leadership positions.
He educated and sensitised participants to continue to promote peace, harmony and tolerance among various political parties, adding that “you have to be alert at all times”.
A commission member of the NCCE, Hajia Fatima Mohammed, for her part, underscored the need for an urgent reduction in the rate of unemployment in the country so that the youth could not be misled into indulging in violent acts and admonished parents to inculcate the habit of appreciating the Ghanaian culture, values and norms in their wards.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
