Call Party Supporters To Order
Justice Emile Short, former Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on all political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP), to urge their party supporters to conduct themselves in accordance with the electoral laws and to act in a peaceful and lawful manner during the forthcoming elections.
He said the political parties should educate their agents and supporters at all levels on the 2012 Code of Conduct for political parties.
Speaking at a workshop with election stakeholders organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on the theme ‘Towards Free, Fair And Violence Free Elections In Ghana: Holding Key Stakeholders Accountable’, he said the political parties were obviously one of the key stakeholders and bore the greatest responsibility of ensuring a free, fair and peaceful lection.
He therefore said the leaders of the political parties should take concrete steps to disband all vigilante groups such as the Azoka Boys and Bamba Boys, if they still existed.
Mr. Emile Short said all stakeholders including the Electoral Commission, the political parties, the media, civil society, the law enforcement agencies, and the population at large must actively play their part in ensuring that the elections were conducted peacefully and in a manner that would reflect the true will of the people.
He said the EC, with the support of development partners, should educate party agents about their rights and responsibilities.
“They should also educate voters on the electoral process with a view to, among other things, ensure that the high number of rejected ballots in the 2008 elections is reduced to the barest minimum”, he added.
Mr. Emile Short said the Police Service should declare its willingness and intention to arrest and prosecute persons who committed electoral-related violence and flouted any provision of the electoral laws.
The Chief Justice, he said, should also take steps to ensure that issues of political rights and electoral disputes were dealt with expeditiously by designating special or ad hoc courts for that purpose.
He urged all media houses to sign the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) PR Book by which the media houses have undertaken to ensure “accurate, balanced and fair reportage”.
Mr. Emile Short said the media should help to create widespread awareness of the provisions of the 2012 Code of Conduct for political parties, and report violations of its provisions.
He said the media, particularly those with party affiliations, must desist from using their platforms to indulge in unlawful acts and provocative behavior. “They should at all times, refrain from publishing statements which could inflame passions and stir the public to violence,” he added.
Mr. Emile Short urged the radio stations to use delay mechanisms more often to block inappropriate and intemperate language and the peddling of unfounded allegations on the airwaves.
He said, “Let us demonstrate during the forthcoming elections to the rest of the African continent and the world that at least when it comes to holding free, fair and peaceful elections, we are the leading light”.
By Cephas Larbi
Posted by admin
on Mar 21 2012. Filed under African News.
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