The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has expressed deep concern over the increasing willingness of some Ghanaians to engage in election-related violence.
Her comments follow the release of a recent NCCE report on voter concerns, which revealed that certain voters are prepared to resort to violent actions to promote party interests or respond to perceived electoral malpractice.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 23, Kathleen Addy emphasized the urgent need to reinforce government institutions to restore public confidence in the electoral process and prevent incidents of violence.
“We have people who are willing to say on record that yes, they’re willing to participate in violent activities, at least for one reason or the other. It should be a great source of worry to all well-meaning Ghanaians,” Addy remarked.
She further stressed the importance of building public trust in the systems established to govern electoral processes, noting that this would reduce the likelihood of people resorting to violence. “As a people, we should work together to ensure that we build confidence in the systems that have been set up for governance. So that people will not be compelled to take that course of action.”
Addy also highlighted the existing mechanisms for conflict resolution, urging the public to rely on these channels to address electoral disputes. “People should have the understanding that there are conflict resolution options available through various institutions, such as the Peace Council. We should use these mechanisms to resolve every misunderstanding that comes up,” she said.
The NCCE Chairperson pointed out that party representatives are already present at polling stations to monitor and ensure that votes are properly allocated to their respective parties. She cautioned individuals against unauthorized activities at polling stations, stating, “When you go to the polling stations, the parties already have someone there ensuring that the parties are allocated with the votes they get. If you have not been delegated to represent your party, you have no business going there to do party work.”
The NCCE’s recent report underscores the urgent need for civic education on the dangers of election-related violence and the importance of peaceful electoral processes. The Commission continues to advocate for public awareness, urging citizens to make use of existing institutional frameworks to resolve electoral conflicts rather than resort to violence.
