By Peter Agengre
Supporters of the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Upper East Region have reached an agreement to protect and preach peace going into the 2024 general elections.
They have also promised to ensure the safety of the electorates at the various polling stations, especially in constituencies directly affected by the Bawku conflict.
These came to light at Bolgatanga when the two major political parties engaged stakeholders, including Coginta-Ghana and BEWDA, on restoring peace in Bawku and its environs. The dialogue session was for selected political party executives in the Bawku Central, Binduri, Garu, Pusiga, Tempani and Bawku West constituencies.
Both NDC and NPP discussed their roles in de-escalating the ethno-political tensions in constituencies affected by the Bawku conflict.
NPP Communications officer for Bawku Central, Mr. Nurudeen Gumah, and the NDC communications Officer for Bawku Central, Mr. Yussif Otumba, both recognized that peace in the 2024 elections is a fundamental requirement for growth and development, especially in the six political districts of the Kusaug area.
They all agreed to support each other’s campaigns freely in the Bawku constituency, devoid of rancor and name-calling.
“We have resolved to assure ourselves that the NDC followers in Mamprusi dominated communities and NPP followers in Kusasi dominated communities should be allowed to openly identify with their political party ideology and paraphernalia. Both parties have also agreed to refrain from meddling in and making pronouncements on chieftaincy related issues and pledged to educate their rank and file on the matter in the interest of peace,” Mr. Yussif Otumba read the communiqué.
An Executive Secretary of the Upper East Regional Peace Council, Mr. Ali Anankpieng, commended the leadership of the political parties for the bold step taken for peace in the electioneering campaigns. He reiterated that peaceful coexistence strengthens social cohesion and sustainable development and requested that the same dialogue and resolution be extended to their supporters and leaders at the polling station level.
“One thing that is mentioned in the Bawku conflict is that, a big part of it is politically related and today the parties have taken an action to let the world know that they desire peace and Bawku must have peace. Whatever role the peace council can play we will do that for permanent peace to return to Bawku,” Mr. Anankpieng assured.
During the deliberations, the two political parties resolved to be role models to their rank and file, and promised to desist from inciting people against members of the opposing party. These undertakings, among other agreements, are the reasons why the Executive Director of Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), a Non-Governmental Organization Mr. Peter Asaal, was confident that the engagement would reap its target of a peaceful electioneering campaign season.
The engagement was organized by Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA), a non-governmental organization with funding assistance from the European Union (EU) through COGINTA-Ghana under the Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC) Programme.
