ACCRA, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 (CISA)-The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) has appealed to political parties in the country to support and respect the independence of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (ECG).
The bishops in their 2020 Lenten Campaign Pastoral letter signed by GCBC’s President, Most Rev. Philip Naameh encouraged all the stakeholders to continue to use the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) sessions to engage the electoral commission on their grievances.
“All the political parties are to be given a fair and a level playing field to contest the upcoming elections,” the statement reads, calling upon the electoral commission to remain unbiased in order to restore confidence in delivering a free, fair and transparent elections on December7.
We need to exercise our franchise conscientiously during the elections to secure a better country for tomorrow. We need to eschew the vote buying syndrome and vote according to our conscience,” it said.
The bishops appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the security agencies to provide the necessary and conducive environment devoid of fear, intimidation and hooliganism.
“Every human life is sacrosanct and needs to be protected. It is the duty of all Ghanaians to work hard to uphold the sanctity of human life before, during and after the forthcoming elections,” it said.
The letter urged Ghanaians to use the social media, Internet, mobile phones and other tools positively and to avoid spreading hate and violent speeches.
“Today, the sword can take the form of multiple registration, multiple voting, vigilantism, “macho” men who intimidate and steal ballot boxes, using the digital media to write and propagate damaging things,” it stressed.
