Dr. Chambas poses with some editors after the engagement
Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas yesterday spoke against hate speech when he held a conversation with a cross section of editors and senior journalists at the International Press Centre in Accra.
Dr. Chambas, who is the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative for West Africa, observed that hate speech incites violence and should not be encouraged in the political space.
“Hate speech does not elucidate peace but foments bitterness and violence. Don’t give voice to hate speech,” he told journalists, adding that “we have seen the consequences of this trend in some parts of the world.”
Although the country is in the final stage of campaigning and expectedly the tempo would be high, “let all engage in debate of ideasand confrontation of ideas not violence,” he said.
At the end of the day, he charged “we want the Black Star, Ghana, to be the winner.”
The Electoral Commission (EC), he said, has a huge task of ensuring that eligible Ghanaians vote on Election Day. It is necessary therefore that all stakeholders support the election management body “to work optimally.”
To the EC, he charged it to reach out to parties as a means of building confidence in its work.
The UN and EU, he said,are supporting the EC in the area of logistical supplies so that all political actors are satisfied since “Elections are won at polling stations.”
According to Dr. Chambas, there are clear electoral laws in the country and it is the security agents who should enforce these laws. Those who breach the laws should be sanctioned with the existing laws.
“We should seek to build a climate where the rule of law is upheld. Let ballots determine the winner of elections not bullets,” he said.
During question time, a journalist sought his take on, as he put it,‘dumping of soldiers’ in some parts of the country. Dr. Chambas said it is important to secure staff of the EC during elections, and the electorate who would be voting. There is nothing wrong with security agents deployed to parts of the country in as much as their presence is not intended to deter people from voting.
Ghanaian security personnel are professional in their work and have earned international acclaim for their performance. He recalled the sterling role of Ghanaian police officers during the elections of some West African countries.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President, Roland AffailMonney, in his remarks, spoke highly of Dr. Chambas pointing out especially his impeccable sense of patriotism.
He also kicked against hate speech which he added is fueled by some broadcasters whose demand for ‘more fire’ does not help matters.
The media should not be agents of destruction but rather transparent elections.
He wished Dr. Chambas a happy birthday, which falls on December 7.
By A.R. Gomda