Key state actors and influential public figures are calling for peace before, during and after Ghana’s December 7 presidential and parliamentary polls.

In a series of video clips put together by JoyNews in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services, individuals such as the UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, and Country Representative of Catholic Relief Services, Madam Abena Amedorme have made clarion calls to the general public to #ChoosePeaceGh as the country heads to the polls.

The #ChoosePeaceGh campaign is to ultimately among others, help check violent extremism and promote peace through social cohesion.  The initiative falls under a bigger project being implemented by the Catholic Relief Services called Prevention of Violent Extremism through Social Accountability (PoVETSA) II with funding from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other activities including a national dialogue held on September 21, marking 2024 International Day for Peace, and an exclusive all-women dialogue dubbed Women, Politics and Power are inclusive of the peace campaign being implemented by the JoyNews in partnership with Catholic Relief Services.

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In their individual #ChoosePeaceGh campaigns, Abena Amedormey, the Country Representative of CRS Ghana, Dr. Charles Abani, the UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, as well as Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, spokesperson for Chief Imam advocated the sustenance of the existing peace while appealing to the media, political actors and traditional authorities to use their offices to protect Ghana’s peace and development.

Abena Amedormey of CRS intimated “we must be measured in our words, actions and reactions to prioritise the peace that has come to define Ghana as the beacon and the example of what a peaceful election looks like in West Africa.”

Dr. Charles Abani said, “we appeal to all to pledge for peace in this important election year. We call on political actors, traditional and religious authorities, young people, the media, everyone because peace is the glue that binds this great nation together”.

Sheikh Arimeyawo indicated “as a people, let’s keep the peace of our country. We need Ghana to survive as citizens beyond the election cycles of our country. Whether young or old, whether NPP or NDC, we need one Ghana to survive”.

Several others, including, Former National Chairman of the NPP, Peter Mac Manu, Former Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court, Justice William Atuguba, former Deputy Attorney General Dominic Ayine, Deputy Chairperson of The Electoral Commission Bossman Asare, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, George Amoh, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mark Badu-Agyeman, President of the Ghana Union of Traders, Dr. Joseph Obeng and a number of On-Air personalities of JoyNews also featured, sharing various peace messages with the general public and electorates.

On Women, Politics and Power, MP of Ablekuma North, Sheila Penelope Bartels, outlined the issues female politicians face in trying to secure a seat in parliament as part of gender inclusivity in democracy. She revealed that “despite given a seat at a table where the majority of the people we’re debating with are men, we face the challenges of ‘glass ceiling’. It is still not free and fair for women.

Obstacles are encountered in getting people to appreciate the distinct voices in certain matters pertaining to women.” She also addressed the significance of resolving issues of gender disparity to foster women inclusivity in politics.

Others who joined her on the panel included MP for Ada, Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah and gender advocate and lawyer, Sheila Minka-Premo. They were hosted by the Sweety Aborchie of JoyNews, the host of Women, Politics and Power and AM Show. Comfort revealed that even at her age and where she is, she still gets men advancing love to her.

Shiela Minka Premo gave a presentation on the state of women inclusion in governance showed a relative marginal improvement over the years.

The National Dialogue on Peace before Elections empaneled resource persons from the National Peace Council (NPC), WANEP, Electoral Commission and the NCCE.  Regional Coordinator for Research at the West African Network for Peace-Building

Dr. Festus Aubyn, identified some key thematic issues that still pose a threat to peace in Ghana during elections despite the state of peace in the country. He said "the mistrust of the state institutions such as the Election Commission and the security agencies as a result of their historical factors and actions has endangered the mistrust from political actors in Ghana’s electoral process”.

In a conscious effort to ensure peace in the 2024 elections, the Executive Secretary at the National Peace Council Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu Gyamfi, Chairperson of the National Peace Council also highlighted the measures the NCP are executing to curtail the issue of mistrust from political actors. “We have setup a political party trust-building platform to bring together all 11 registered political parties together with their general secretaries and chairpersons to improve political discourse political. The platform has helped to reduce tension between political actors.” He said.

The CRS’ PoVETSA II #ChoosePeaceGH campaign is designed to promote national unity and social cohesion through enhanced trust between civilians and security forces, higher standards of political conduct, and the active inclusion of marginalized communities, ultimately reducing the risk of election-related violence and fostering peaceful democratic participation