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The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has organized a national stakeholder forum on election 2016.

The forum under the theme "Towards Credible, Acceptable and Violence-Free Elections: The Role of Key Stakeholders" is to ensure strict adherence to the election laws and the measures by election stakeholders to maintain peace before, during and after the November 7 elections this year.

During the forum, the Director of Judiciary Training Institute and Justice of the Court of Appeal, Prof. Justice Dennis Adjei addressed the role and preparedness of the Judiciary for the 2016 general elections.

He advised the stakeholders to respect the constitutional instrument and the laws guarding the elections as well as the integrity of the judicial service in the election period.

Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Association, Dr. Benjamin Agordzo speaking on the role and preparedness of the security agencies noted some measures that the security services have put in place to check violence.

According to him, the Police Service is having training sessions for its personnel towards the elections, adding that the training sessions are aimed at maintaining law and order during and after the November 7 polls.

He further noted that as part of measures, the Police have held a dialogue series with political parties and election stakeholders to address pertinent issues regarding the safety of their candidates.

He also called for the disbandment of vigilante groups because the groups cause fear and panic.

"They are criminal groups that are masquerading as supporters of political parties and to the extent that they cause panic and fear, we could even describe them as terrorists. And we are ready to crush them if they are not disbanded…And we are going to deal with them as such."

Prof. Kwame Karikari, Chairman of the Media Foundation for West Africa, speaking to the media, advised that the media should be wary of declaring election results since such culture could stir agitations in the nation.

He urged the media to rely on the Electoral Commission (EC) before putting out provisional results to the public.

Also present at the forum were Executive Director of Institute of Economic Affairs Mrs. Jean Mensa, Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Catholic Church among other stakeholders.

A speech was read on behalf of the Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission Samuel Tettey who could not be present for the forum.