The Forum for Actions on Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony (FAITH) in Ghana, an interfaith Alliance have launched a campaign project dubbed Educating, Training and Healing Individuals, Community and Society (ETHICS) Against Vigilantism during Ghana’s upcoming elections
The campaign project launched in Accra February 28, 2020 on the theme “Ethics Against Vigilantism” is being spearheaded by Caritas Ghana under the auspices of the FAITH in Ghana Alliance and funded by Star Ghana Foundation to eradicate completely the malice vigilantism and also to educate women and the vulnerable.
The motive that triggered this campaign was the usage of vigilantes groups by political parties to undermine State security during general elections, hence the objective of the project is to facilitate dialogue between religious leaders and political parties to eliminate political vigilante activities. It also seeks to improve the peace and security in the election value chain and elimination of excessive negative conducts by politically sponsored groups.
The campaign is expected to be fiercer in six out of the sixteen regions in Ghana, namely; Greater Accra, Northern, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West and North East regions within a period of eighteen (18) months starting from the day of the launch and taking into consideration pre-election activities, elections day and post-election activities.
The Coordinator of the FAITH Alliance in Ghana, Samuel Zan Akologo said the launch “is a ground-breaking undertaking of diverse faith groups working together to sanitize our political environment to ensure that NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND especially in the 2020 elections.”
He said Faith groups working together on a common cause “is already a formidable platform but we will enhance our potential by collaborating with both State and Non-state agencies who share our dream.”
‘We will work with the National Peace Council to pursue the agenda of denouncing political vigilantism and working towards the complete eradication in our political practice,” he stated, adding that we believe this is the way to make the vigilantism and related offences ACT 2019 work for the good of our country.”
According to Zan Akologo who is also the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, the Religious Groups will also work with the Electoral Commission to enhance credibility and inclusiveness in the electoral processes, saying that “we will partner the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to broaden outreach in civic and voter education.
Speaking at the launch of the project, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Mr. George Amoh said “vigilantism has flaunt the beautiful democracy Ghana is practising and we all must wake up and deal with it once and for all”.
He further expressed his pleasure about the passing of an Act to curb the malice vigilantism saying “I am happy that there is a law, Act 999, which has been passed by parliament to deal with the criminal aspect of the vigilante malice”.
He also called on various social groups such as trade unions, students associations, media groups, driver unions, musicians, the disabled and the vulnerable in Ghana to join the campaign and fight against vigilantism not leaving it for only religious organisations.
Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, the spokesperson of the Office of the National Chief Imam, who doubled as the Chairman for the launch added that, “vigilantism is the growth of indiscipline in our society and a distraction of our democratic dispensation.”
Other dignitaries who graced the launch included Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana and Co-ordinator of FAITH in Ghana Alliance, Mrs. Lucile Anan, Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education and others.
Meanwhile, the Forum for Actions on Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony (FAITH) in Ghana has organised a dialogue meeting between Ghana’s Electoral Commission and Religious women’s groups at the Christ the King Parish in Accra on the theme: “Promoting Inclusion in the 2020 Elections.”
The purpose of the programme was to create a platform for women to engage the Electoral Commission, to give women electoral education and also to enhance continuous engagement of women in the electoral process.
Women from the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI), Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission (AMM) and the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Ghana (FOMWAG), participated in the dialogue. The framework of women’s forums will be replicated in five other regions namely Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East.
Representing the Electoral Commission was Madam Abigail Amponsah Nutakor, Head of Gender, Youth and Disability Unit, who said election is a process and not a day’s activity. She also introduced participants to the proxy system of the Electoral Commission and emphasised on the preferential treatment for the aged, pregnant women, lactating mothers and the disabled in our society.
The Chairperson of the day, Mrs. Clara Beeri Kowlaga Kasser-Tee, the Managing Partner of Kasser Law Firm and a lecturer at the GIMPA Law School encouraged women to educate their spouses and children about the consequences of vigilantism.
Other panellists were Mrs. Lucile Anan – Greater Accra Regional Director of National Commission for Civic Education, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo – Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana and Coordinator of FAITH in Ghana Alliance, Rev. Fr. George Ekow Mensah – Greater Accra representative for FAITH in Ghana Alliance, and the Chairperson of the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Ghana(FOMWAG).
