The Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council (GARPC), Right Reverend Samuel Kofi Osabutey, has called on political parties to prioritize consensus building over violence in the upcoming 2024 General Election. He emphasized that resorting to violence to resolve electoral disputes would be detrimental to the country's progress and harm innocent citizens.
Rt. Rev. Osabutey made these remarks at the opening of a two-day capacity-building program for political parties focused on trust building and intra and inter-party dispute resolution mechanisms. The training aimed to empower political parties to resolve conflicts without violence and integrate principles of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) into their structures.
The GARPC Chairman highlighted the benefits of ADR, including faster resolution of complaints, innovative solutions, and restoration of peaceful relationships. He emphasized the importance of tolerance and transparency in election administration, calling on the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure transparent processes to enhance trust and legitimacy.
Mr. George Amoo, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council (NPC), outlined the Council's mandate to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts. He emphasized the NPC's role in facilitating peaceful elections through dialogues, training, and awareness creation. Mr Amoo also highlighted efforts to combat hate speech and misinformation through collaboration with media organizations and other stakeholders.
Mr. Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, Accra Regional Secretary for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emphasized the need for key stakeholders, including the police and the EC, to participate in future deliberations for effective conflict resolution.
Political parties, including the Convention People's Party, All People's Congress, Progressive People's Party, Great Consolidated Popular Party, and the New Patriotic Party, participated in the workshop, demonstrating a collective commitment to peaceful elections in Ghana.