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Mr. Nazif Sadisu Mohammed, the Kwabre East Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has described vote-buying as a menace that breeds corruption and denies Ghanaians competent leaders.
He said politicians who engaged in the practice were inherently corrupt, hence the chances that they might abuse their office for personal gains were high.
Their election or appointment to public offices are often not on merit and the masses suffer repercussions, he pointed out.
Mr. Mohammed, who was speaking during the inauguration of the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) to facilitate peace-building among stakeholders ahead of the 2024 general elections, admonished the electorate to resist vote-buying as the electioneering campaign gathered moment.
Membership of the IPDC which is an initiative of the NCCE, included political parties, Electoral Commission (EC), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Information Services Department (ISD), and Ghana Police Service.
Others are persons with disability, traditional leaders, religious leaders, youth and women groups, identifiable groups and associations, and the Municipal Assembly.
Issues discussed at the inaugural meeting included vote-buying, electoral violence, intolerance, misinformation and disinformation, and religious tolerance.
The NCCE Director said peace before, during and after the election was critical to national development and stability and charged members of the committee to serve as peace ambassadors in their respective communities and workplaces.
He also emphasised the importance of religious tolerance and national cohesion which were key to peace-building and accelerated development.
Madam Salamat Bashir, the Municipal Director of EC, said maintaining peace in the Municipality largely depended on the activities of political parties, and urged them to be cautious of their pronouncements and political activities.
She updated the committee on the recent exhibition exercise and steps being taken by the Commission to ensure free, fair, and transparent election on December 7.
Rev. Father Jacob Tadie, Chairperson of the Committee, said the collective efforts of members of the committee could make a difference in the pursuit for peace, and urged members to get themselves involved in achieving the objectives of the IPDC.
Source: GNA
