The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has expressed deep concerns about the growing readiness of Ghanaians to resort to election-related violence.
Her remarks followed the release of an NCCE report, which revealed that some voters are willing to use violence either to further party agendas or in response to perceived electoral malpractice.
Speaking to the media, Madam Addy underscored the urgent need to reinforce governmental institutions to rebuild public trust in the electoral process and to prevent violence.
“We need to strengthen our institutions to ensure that people trust the system enough to resolve their grievances peacefully,” she stated.
She highlighted the role of existing mechanisms, such as the National Peace Council, in promoting peaceful conflict resolution, urging Ghanaians to rely on these systems rather than take matters into their own hands.
“We already have political party representatives stationed at polling centers to protect their interests, those who are not designated should not interfere at polling stations,” she emphasized.
On the issue of money in politics, Madam Addy expressed alarm at how normalized it has become in Ghana’s political culture, revealing “Money in politics, as we’ve seen, is growing at an alarming rate. It used to be subtle, but now it’s in your face. Politicians openly discuss it, and citizens are demanding it.”
She further criticized how gift-giving to voters has escalated over time, from simple items like matches and candles to extravagant gifts like flat-screen TVs and refrigerators, warning “This trend is a threat to our democracy and the stability of the state.”
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Source: ATLFMNEWS
