Tano North NCCE held inter-party dialogue meeting

The Divisional Police Commander of the Tano North Municipal, Superintendent Isaac Kojo Forson has appealed to the political parties’ youth wings and the leadership to act within the framework of the law to maintain peace in the Municipality.

He indicated that the Police Service maintains peace and order in the discharge of their duties. He emphasized that the said service protect life and property, prevention and detection as well as apprehension.

The Political Vigilantism and land guard activities cause people to lose their lives and said anyone who would be caught in the act is liable on conviction for not less than 10 years and not more than 15 years imprisonment.

Supt. Isaac Kojo Forson said these statements during the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee meeting organized by the National Commission for Civic Education at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Ahafo Region. The Commander reiterated that some groups are sponsors directly or indirectly to promote operations of violence. The involvement of political vigilantism and the land guard as well as holding unregistered offensive weapons is against the laws of Ghana.

He indicated that the Vigilantism Act: 99 of 2019 debunk land guards, threat of violence including intimidation and called on public to corporate with the police deal the criminal activities pertaining in the Municipality and Ghana as at large

Supt. Forson made a reference to Chereponi incidence where AK47 Raffle was retrieved from civilians by senior officer and later the civilians were fined to pay Ghc 10,000.

The Commander explained the public order Act: 491 – , 1994 where police need to be informed about an event five days ahead of time and police will equally have to response to the letter within five days whether they could assist to maintain pubic peace and order in the process.

He stated that the demonstrators’ letter has to indicate where the demonstration would commence, roads to be used by demonstrators, date for the demonstration, time among others.

The Tano North Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education, Mr. Joseph Oduro Buabeng in his welcome address said the ultimate goal of the Inter-party Dialogue is to rekindle dialogue among the political parties and other stakeholders on collective responsibility to ensure peaceful coexistence

Taking the participants through a- two- minute documentary on the genocide in Rwanda, the Ahafo Regional Director of NCCE, Mr. Eric Adu said the peace that Ghana is enjoying now should not be taken for granted and emphasized that some rights of people have been misconstrued by certain principles of the Ghanaian culture.

Mr. Eric Adu urged the public to think of Ghana first saying ‘Party will come and party will go but Ghana will remain Ghana’.

The Ahafo regional NCCE director said the available records on Global Terrorism index 2020, the 8th series has shown that about 163 countries rating 99.7% of the world population had negative impact.

He mentioned countries such as Afghanistan, Nigeria, Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in the south Sahara Africa in 2019 as terrorism prone countries and in Niger alone 507 people died on terrorism in a year which has negative economic impacts.

The Ahafo regional Director said nowhere in the world that they have ever used violence to resolve issue to reach consensus.

Mr. Eric Adu drawn the attention of some activities which terrorist group flourish on where to get their influence forming group and therefore advised people to accept responsibility and vocational skills because lack of jobs leads to ritual murders, Kidnapping and other social vices.

He said Article 19 of the 1992 constitution of Ghana makes emphasis on fair trial which says that the culprit is not guilty until is proving guilty in a court which discourage a lot of people and thereby blaming the police as they need instant justice.

The Ahafo regional Director of NCCE, Mr. Eric Adu spoke against mob injustice and the use of teasing pictures, videos and the use of Photoshop and giving information in the public transport should be avoided.

However, he is content about the recent installation of Closed Circuit television at vantage points and further gives some security tips to the public asking them to investigate information received before taking an action.

The growth of the world has led human beings to develop the love for money and personal security is the key, he emphasised.

He urged politicians to give praises to where is due to other political opponent and make constructive criticism when necessary.

The Regional NCCE director asked the media; NGOs, faith-based organisations and the use of the Whistleblowers Act 2006 as the advocacy campaign for inclusive participation and giving hope to the youth by psychic them.

On his part, Nana Boakye Bonsu the Akwamuhene of Duayaw Nkwanta was happy that the Muslims and the Christians co-exist peacefully. Nana was quick to add that utterances of some section of political activist should be guided to avert mayhem, he made special emphasis on some serial callers to learn good communication skills before they represent their parties.

Nana Boakye Bonsu used the opportunity to advise the informant to police that the process should be secretive to aid the police to weed out the miscreants.