NCCE Official group photograph with participants
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has launched its Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) initiative in Sampa to address electoral concerns, promote tolerance, and prevent potential conflicts.
During the session held with the residents of Sampa in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region, the commission emphasized the importance of embracing peace and avoiding any escalation of violence to prevent worsening the current situation, which has led to residents being under curfew.
The Bono Regional Director of NCCE, Cynthia Anima Boadu, stressed the significance of convening an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting in Sampa to foster peace-building among diverse groups within the district and thwart violent extremists from neighboring countries exploiting the situation.
Addressing members at the Church of Pentecost in Sampa, Madam Boadu highlighted the necessity of peace for political parties to effectively govern, stating, “Political parties draw their strength from the peace we enjoy within our democracy.”
She cautioned that this power would diminish if democracy was jeopardized by violence. She also reminded attendees of how recent violence in the area has resulted in a curfew being imposed, affecting farmers, students, and traders.
She urged vigilance against violent extremists seizing the opportunity to infiltrate the country, especially given the shared border with neighboring nations.
Father Bismark Gyedu Arphul of the Roman Catholic Church spoke on various topics including monitoring and reporting threats, vulnerability to violent extremism, detecting signs of recruitment, mediation, and resolving local conflicts.
He emphasized that continuous community engagement through peace-building relationships can help identify and address concerns before they escalate.
The Jaman North District Director of NCCE, Oscar Kwabena Donkor, explained that the IPDC is part of the European Union-sponsored program aimed at preventing and containing violent extremism in the northern regions.
The initiative covers regions such as Bono, Bono East, and Oti to prevent violent extremist groups from exploiting the country’s election year to incite conflicts and disrupt the democratic progress made by the country.
He stressed the importance of consensus building among all political parties to prevent mistrust and suspicion, particularly during this election year.
The Inter-Party Dialogue Committee engaged participants from various political parties, security agencies, traditional authorities, the District Assembly, the Electoral Commission, religious groups, youth organizations, and media outlets.
Daniel Y. Dayee, Sampa