Peace Council and NCCE Promote Dialogue and Cooperation for Ayawaso East By-Election

Accra: The National Peace Council has emphasised dialogue and cooperation among political parties and candidates ahead of the Ayawaso East by-election on March 3. The Council urged party representatives and voters to abide by electoral procedures and guidelines to ensure peace before, during, and after the polls in the constituency. According to Ghana News Agency, Right Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Peace Council, made the appeal during an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting held at Nima in Accra. The session, organised in collaboration with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), brought together political party leaders, Electoral Commission representatives, security agencies, religious and traditional authorities. Rt Rev Osabutey highlighted the role of IPDC in consensus building, tolerance, inclusivity, and unity. He noted that the Ayawaso East Constituency is peaceful but faces peace and security challenges, including threats of political vigilanti sm and electoral violence. He emphasised the importance of dialogue as a tool for resolving political disputes and fostering communal harmony. Discussions during the meeting focused on strategies, lessons from past experiences, and approaches to making peace pacts more effective. Ms Victoria Yakubu, Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, advised voters and party faithful to resist coercion to violence and unlawful conduct, urging collaboration with officials on election day. Ms Gloria Kudo, Deputy Regional Director of the NCCE, cautioned against unofficial declaration of results and urged balanced and responsible media reportage. She stressed the importance of using non-provocative language and highlighted the role of IPDC members in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. The Peace Council and NCCE had earlier engaged youth groups and community-based organisations in the constituency to deepen awareness of issues that trigger violence, extremism, vigilantism, and related offences.