The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms & Light Weapons, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with funding from the German Foreign Office, has launched a campaign dubbed ‘Ballots Without Bullets’.
They are starting an intensive public sensitisation on the dangers of election violence and the need to maintain peace ahead of December 7elections.
The UN Special Representative of the Secretary General to West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who was the guest speaker at the launch, mentioned that Ghana has often been described as the beacon of democracy in Africa because of the country’s seven successive elections since 1992, and he is expecting this years’ contest to also be peaceful.
He recognised that although significant progress has been made, there are still some level of tensions and pocket of violence in the country which call for the needed attention.
“It is noteworthy that this flagship advocacy and public sensitisation programme ‘Ballots Without Bullets’ has come at the right time to call on all of us to work at maintaining peace before, during and after the elections in Ghana,” he noted.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission on Small Arms & Light Weapons, Jones Applerh, said the Ghana Police Service (GPS) Ahas identified about 4,098 hotspots across the country ahead of the 2020 general election.
He said the top five regions with the highest hotspots include Ashanti with 635 flashpoints, 537 in Central, 405 in Eastern and 323 and 321 respectively in Western and Volta.
He further noted that with these identified regional hotspots, the commission, in collaboration with security agencies, the National Commission on Civic Education and the National Peace Council, was rolling out sensitisation programmes in at least 10 districts or constituencies which are classified as ‘hottest hotspots’ across the country.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Charles Abani, called for continuous commitment to maintain peace in Ghana, saying, “The UN in Ghana is proud of its partnership, especially with key institutions to uphold and maintain peace in Ghana.”
Ms. Silke Hollander, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP, emphasised the need for everyone to ensure a peaceful election without resorting to violence or the use of guns.
By Melvin Tarlue