W/R Peace Council Facilitates Stakeholder Dialogue for Peaceful Elections in Essikado-Ketan.

Essikado-Ketan: The Western Regional Peace Council (WRPC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has facilitated a one-day constituency-level stakeholder dialogue in the Essikado-Ketan constituency to promote peaceful elections. The event was funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and culminated in the signing of a peace pact by parliamentary candidates in this electoral hotspot, aiming to foster peace before, during, and after the polls.According to Ghana News Agency, Bishop Emmanuel Botwey, the WRPC chairman, emphasized that the dialogue was designed to ensure peaceful elections. He highlighted that the signing of the peace pact was intended to secure commitment from various political parties and serve as a guide during the electoral process. The initiative seeks to encourage political tolerance, consensus-building, and peace in the media space.Bishop Botwey expressed hope that the peace pact would yield positive outcomes by addressing grievance s, reducing tension and violence, and curbing electoral violence. Mr. Richard Ametefe, a lecturer from the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Cape Coast, educated participants on election-related conflicts and their management. He urged those advocating for conflict to reconsider, underscoring the long-term impacts of war on society.Police Chief Superintendent Daniel Anane Amoah of the Takoradi Division assured attendees that security personnel have been specially trained for the upcoming polls. He pledged that the police would maintain peace throughout the election process and advised the public, especially the youth, to avoid actions that could disrupt the elections.Regional Directors from the National Commission for Civic Education and the Electoral Commission provided guidance on the electoral process's dos and don'ts. Mr. Charles Cromwell Bissue, the New Patriotic Party Parliamentary candidate for Essikado, reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful elections and urged his supporters to vote without succumbing to external influences.In a related development, the Council organized a similar event in the Jomoro constituency, where the representative of the NPP parliamentary candidate was the sole signatory of the peace pact. The Jomoro constituency features four parliamentary candidates: Mrs. Dorcas Affo-Toffey of the NDC, Mr. Paul Essien of the NPP, Madam Samia Nkrumah as an independent candidate, and Nana Blay Miezah of the Convention People's Party (CPP).