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The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has inaugurated an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) for the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region.

It forms part of efforts to ensure a free, fair and peaceful general election in 2020.

Representatives of the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, security agencies, the NCCE, National Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Peace Council, religious and traditional authorities, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media constitute the committee.

The inauguration of the committee was to ensure that the stakeholders work together and play key roles to achieve a credible, free, fair and violence free elections.

Tensions

The Municipal Director of the NCCE, Mr Omar Jafaru Alsadiq, said the 2020 general election just like every election would be keenly contested, and that tensions among the people would rise, especially during the campaign period.

He said it was, therefore, imperative for stakeholders to work together to sustain the peace and cement the democratic credentials of the country.

“The Inter-Party Dialogue Committee as a unifying body will promote peace and resolve conflicts before, during and after the 2020 general election in order to enhance political, social and economic progress.

“In addition to the conflict transformation and dialogue function, the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee shall also help monitor and report cases of breach of rules and regulations relating to the conduct of the elections and the maintenance of public order,” he said.

Mediation

Mr Alsadiq said the committee would further focus attention on mediation and the resolution of petty conflicts that had the potential to mar the upcoming election.

“This entails monitoring the enforcement of the electoral rules and regulations, infringement on political code of conduct, promoting peaceful security situations, identifying issues that have the potential to trigger electoral conflict and also promote information sharing to avoid rumour mongering,” he said.

He expressed optimism that if the committee assiduously executed its mandate, an enabling environment of peaceful coexistence would be created in the municipality.

An action plan was developed by the committee to enable it to successfully implement its projects.

Mr Sheik Abu-Bakr Sadiq of the National Peace Council and Mrs Victoria Adimazoya of the Catholic Christian Women Association were elected chairperson and co-chair respectively.

Mr Sheik Abu-Bakr Sadiq appealed to the various stakeholders to act as ambassadors of peace in their undertakings to enable people to understand the need to employ dialogue to resolve their differences and promote peaceful coexistence.