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NCCE, Presby Church propagate peaceful elections
The Eastern Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education has collaborated with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Ghana Police Service and the Electoral Commission in a public education drive to ensure that peace reigns before, during, and after the 2020 general elections.
According to the Eastern Regional Director of NCCE, Mr Alex Sackey, the campaign which was in four phases started in October and would cover areas such as the Akuapim North, New Juaben South, Suhum, and Nsawam municipalities.
Addressing the New Juaben South Session at the Calvary Congregation of the Presby Church at Suhyen, a suburb of Koforidua, Mr Sackey said that Ghana was privileged to be going to the polls for the eighth time since the 4th Republic was ushered in.
He said, in all the process, Ghana had had three peaceful change overs from one political party to another and thus solidified its credentials as a democratic country.
He said edespite all the achievements made with such good track record; there had been very serious tensions in 1992, 2008, and 2012 at the end of the elections, and therefore, urged Ghanaians to remain vigilant and do everything in their power to maintain the peace being enjoyed.
He advised all stakeholders to play their part truthfully by putting Ghana first at all times, adding that “we should begin to imagine politics as a relation between communities, and one another to enable us to understand that peace is good.”
The Regional Director encouraged the EC to continue doing their best and be transparent, fair, and impartial to all political parties at all times for them to accept the election results.
Mr Sackey entreated the police to apply the law without fear or favour and admonished the political parties to be very courteous and polite on platforms, radio and television stations, adding that intemperate language would create reactions from the other side that could disturb the relative peace in the country.
The Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr Asirifi Young briefed the participants on the preparations the Electoral Commission was making toward a successful election and said that the commission was an impartial referee and was not in a position to rig elections as some suspected.
The Eastern Regional Crime Officer, Mr Reuben took participants through the electoral laws and their corresponding sanctions when breached.
By Samuel Opare Lartey
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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