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Stakeholders in the Upper East Region have developed a roadmap towards ensuring peaceful election in December. 

They include representatives of the various political parties, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, Persons with Disability and Assembly Members.  

They met at separate fora in the Bolgatanga Central and East, Bongo, Talensi and Nabdam Constituencies to discuss how peace could be maintained before, during and after the December general elections.

The representatives of the various political parties were made to sign the roadmap in the presence of the other stakeholders.

Key among the roadmap is that, political parties should avoid the use of indecent language and insults during their campaigns and radio discussions and commentary and rather focus on their manifestos; and no more than one political party should hold a rally at the same venue at the same time.

They also passed a resolution not to destroy, remove or deface literature or posters of other political parties at approved areas and avoid reckless riding of motorbikes.

The stakeholders also proposed that the aged, pregnant women and persons with disabilities should be given the opportunity to vote without joining the queue on voting day and that agents of political parties should abide by the rules.

“All political parties and candidates should openly restrain their members and supporters from reacting violently to election results and shall use all available means of mass media communication to restrain their members and supporters who react violently to election results. No intimidation at polling stations on the day of voting by macho men. All polling stations should be accessible and friendly to PWDs on the day of voting. After declaration of results the winning party should not jubilate to the house of the losing party and should be modest”, they stated.

The fora were organised on the theme: ”Enhanced Citizens Participation in Election 2016”,  by Trade Aid Integrated with sponsorship from STAR-Ghana.

Mr Simon Amoah, the Project Coordinator, said the ultimate aim of the project was to contribute towards ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election in this year’s general elections and also contribute to the reduction of rejected ballot papers and increase voter turnout.