Ghanaians have been advised never to allow elections to generate into war as the general elections draw near, because when there is electoral violence, it is women and children that suffer the most.
Bishop Dr. Abubakar, chairman of the Ashanti Regional Peace Council, who gave the admonition at the Training for Election Observers, noted that it was imperative not to allow elections to turn the country into a war zone.
The training was the last in a series of initiatives aimed at empowering 100 women and youth from four regions of Ghana (Volta, Northern, Ashanti, and Greater Accra) and seeks to build the capacity of participants to ensure transparency, accountability and peaceful elections in 2024.
Under the theme: “Ghana’s 2024 Elections: Enhancing the Capacity of Women and Youth in Elections, the programme was organised by the Women Situation Room Project Consortium, in collaboration with the Women, Youth, Peace and Security (WYPS) Department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
The Participants were trained on essential topics such as Code of Conduct for election observation, Election observation as a conflict prevention mechanism, Reporting irregularities and urgent issues.
According to the retired Bishop of the Kumasi Methodist Church, there are about 20 hotspots in the Ashanti region with three Commands, and that the Peace Council was collaborating with the security officers to ensure peace before, during and after every election.
He disclosed that the police have been of great help to the Peace Council and reminded the participants that they are equipped to be effective in election observing, as most of the political party observers are illiterates.
He disclosed that the party’s observers create problems and that the participants must go and share whatever they learn with them to know their limitations.
He entreated them to try and cool down tempers when people are annoyed or quick tempered and urged them to go and preach peace in their areas.
He reminded the political parties that if they fail to win they should go back to the drawing board and prepare for another time.
He entreated the political parties to desist from choosing illiterate observers to cause trouble at polling stations and to ensure a peaceful process.
Madam Horname Noagbesenu, Director Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, (PPMED) and Ag Director, Women, Youth Peace and Security Department of (KAIPTC), explained that the youth are integral people and play an important role in the society.
She said the KAIPTC places a lot of emphasis on women within the context of peace and security related issues, particularly because they recognize that as part of promoting and enhancing inclusivity, women make a greater part in society as they are more than half of the population in the country.
Apart from that they work in promoting the Security Council’s resolution 2025, which emphasised prevention of conflicts and also participation of everyone in the prevention of conflicts.
Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant, KAIPTC, also reminded the participants that they are to detect and prevent electoral fraud by reporting irregularities and ensuring credibility.
He said their actions have the power to shape the future through professionalism, as their observation is vital to ensure that the voiceless are heard.
The Commandant reminded them to avoid making judgment from their own opinion and urged them to work together to make the elections free, fair and transparent.
In attendance were representatives from the Women Situation Room Project Consortium, WYPS, and funding partners such as the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
