“NO AMOUNT OF MONEY IS ENOUGH TO BUY YOUR VOTE SO DO NOT SELL IT: AHAFO NCCE TO NURSING MOTHERS

Officers from the Ahafo Regional Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) embarked on a public education and sensitization programme with the nursing mothers and the nurses at the Reproductive Child Health Unit of the Goaso Municipal Hospital. The sensitization centred on the negative effects of vote buying, misinformation, and disinformation and a call to peace as Ghana goes to the polls in December 2024.

The officers present for the sensitization were Mr. Atta Kofi Yeboah (CEO), Ms. Ellen Lokko (ACEO), and Ms. Dora Etevor (ACEO). Ms. Dora Etevor educated the nursing mothers on what vote buying is and encouraged them not to take money from politicians in exchange for voting for them during the 2024 elections. She further explained that people should rather listen to and assess thoroughly the campaign messages of every aspirant to help them make an informed decision. Ms. Dora Etevor added that selling one’s vote exposes citizens to a situation where they are unable to demand accountability from the very same people the citizens collected money from before being given their mandate to be in office.

She also asserted that collecting money from politicians before voting for them denies the people the right representation in governance since such positions, instead of being occupied by people with the right intellect rather than go to the highest bidder.

Ms. Ellen Lokko also educated the women on misinformation and disinformation and drew their attention to the dangers involved in spreading false information. She further mentioned that misinforming the public, especially during the election year, can result in dire consequences, like causing fear and panic. She further advised that people should verify any information they hear before sharing, and they should also desist from falsely defaming people’s reputations in an attempt to help their political parties gain power, as defamation is an offense punishable by law.

The nurse in charge of the reproductive child health unit, Ms. Victoria Konadu, and her staff were grateful to the officers of Ahafo Regional NCCE for selecting their outfit for this educational discussion. The NCCE also expressed their gratitude for the warm reception given to them and promised that this would not be the last but that they would frequently visit when the need arose.