The Navrongo -Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Office (NABOCADO), of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo- Bolgatanga, as part of the implementation of the Integrated Peace Building for Improved Food and Nutrition Support (INPEACE) Project with support from Misereor, on Friday, February 16, 2024 held a regional stakeholder engagement in the North East Region in a bid to promote peaceful coexistence before, during and after election 2024.
Elections in Ghana are often characterized by intense campaigns that occasionally see some key figures make comments and pronouncements that are insightful leading to some people engaging in acts of violence.
This varies from destruction of party paraphernalia, offices over their dissatisfaction with some measures being taken to attacks on some persons during registration of voters, disruptions during the election process, and demonstrations after the elections.
NABOCADO has noted with concern that the combined effects of happenings in the Sahel region, regional level security, and election 2024 could lead to a crisis if not properly managed to ensure a peaceful process.
The engagement saw the office engage various actors including security agencies, traditional leaders, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) amongst other state and non-state actors.
Speaking to Journalists on the sidelines of the engagement, Dr. Joseph Bangu, Director of Good Governance, Justice and Peace Directorate of NABOCADO, noted that the combined issues of regional security, election 2024, and the Sahel crisis could have dire consequences if various strategies are not adopted for constructive engagement on peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
With information flow from civilians to security agencies and vice versa having been identified as a major challenge, Dr. Bangu said the intervention has brought stakeholders together for improved coordination and information sharing.
This, he believes, when done, will help in arresting emerging threats before they escalate.
“Our discussion was on peacebuilding and conflict prevention in the context of regional security, election 2024, and then the Sahel crisis. These are combined things that will affect us this year and going forward. So, we thought that at the regional level, we have a common understanding of what this means and the strategies we can put in place for constructive engagement. It is instructive to note that most of the responsibilities is on the civilians because the security services depend on information that is why we are interfacing for the strengthening and building of a network for information sharing which is very important. Another strategy is for us to be very open and to build trust.” He stated.
The Executive Secretary of the Peace Council in the North East Region, Haruna Ibrahim, explained that his outfit is working with other bodies like the Electoral Commission, NCCE, and other security agencies to update its list of hotspots with the hope of intensifying sensitization to promote peace before, during and after the elections.
He hopes that following the engagements, religious bodies will include messages of peace in their sermons ahead of the elections.
“We need to update the hotspots so that we will prepare ourselves adequately for this year’s election. With this, we are going to engage all stakeholders to sensitize the public so that we will have a peaceful election. We are starting with visits to chiefs and other leaders. We encourage churches and mosques to add messages of peace to their sermons.”
On his part, Naba Haruna Nasinmong Laar II, Paramount Chief of Gbankoni Traditional Area, commended NABOCADO for their role in bringing peace to conflicting zones.
He said the politician must be talked to since he views them as people who are dividing their subjects.
