Ending post-election violence: Youth advised to use dialogue to address misunderstandings

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to resort to the use of dialogue rather than violence to address any misunderstanding that arises between them or neighbours.

According to the Commission, this was to ensure amicable solutions to such misunderstandings without threatening peace and stability.

Mrs Lucille Hewlett Annan, Secretary to the Commission, gave the advice at a post-election violence engagement organised for youth and women groups in the Ayawaso West Municipality, in Accra.

The engagement, organised by the NCCE with support from the European Union (EU), sought to, among other things, create awareness about the effects of violence, and illicit arms use.

Topics discussed included the roles of youth in promoting post-election peace and stability; the consequences of post-election violence; post-election misinformation and disinformation and the vigilantism and related offences act.

Mrs. Annan explained that as a country, Ghana had embraced democracy as the preferred option of governance, emphasising the need to uphold the tenets of democracy, including using the right channels to address grievances.

She, therefore, expressed concern about post-election violence that had characterised the transfer of power from one political party to another, in recent times.

“After the successful 2024 elections, we realised that there are certain violence or activities that were carried on by some unknown people. People attacked the electoral commission offices, some burned ballot boxes and all those things,” she said.

At least, five key state institutions, including the Ghana Gas Company, Passport Office, and Tema Harbour, according to reports, were attacked and vandalised after the December 7, 2024, general election.

The attacks were alleged to have been carried out by a group of youth.

Currently, the parliamentary results of one constituency – Ablekuma North, is yet to be declared by the electoral management body, the Electoral Commission, as any attempt by the commission to have the results declared have been met with attacks and vandalism by a group of youth.

Mrs Annan warned that such post-election violence could undermine the country’s democracy and erode the progress made over the past three decades.

She said using violence to resolve conflicts could only worsen the situation and disrupt the peace and security of the country, adding that it deepened divisions and hindered national cohesion.

Highlighting the role of youth in ending such acts to promote national cohesion, Mrs Annan charged them to be tolerant and united in their respective diverse communities.

Additionally, she urged them to foster mutual respect and shared national values.

“They should eschew all forms of violence, and if they have issues, their preferred choice is dialogue and reconciliation rather than violence and other things and destruction of public property,” she advised.

Source: GNA