|
Election 2008 “Clean Election
Campaign” launched
Accra, Sept. 18, Ghanadot/GNA - A campaign dubbed “Clean
Election 2008 Campaign” was on Thursday launched in Accra to
promote peace, fairness and transparency during Election
2008.
The campaign on the theme: “Win Honourably, Lose
Graciously,” was initiated by Methodist Church of Ghana in
collaboration with National Executive Committee of Ghana
Journalists Association (GJA) and Initiatives of Change and
Moral Re-armament (MRA)-Ghana.
Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of GJA said the campaign was
focused on complementing efforts of the media to inform and
educate the electorate on the need to contribute to free,
fair and peaceful elections on December 7.
He urged media practitioners to be circumspect and exercise
high professionalism in their coverage of election campaigns
and noted that GJA did not intend to set any new rules but
would emphasise on journalistic standards and ethics that
required journalists to practice their profession with
social responsibility.
Mr Tetteh pointed out that the media’s non-reportage of an
event did not make it a non-event but the gate-keeping role
of journalists required that inflammatory language of
politicians were refined in order not to inflame passions
and advised politicians to be civil in their campaigns and
not resort to abusive and provocative language.
He pledged GJA’s commitment to partner every Ghanaian who
cherished freedom and democracy and assist the Electoral
Commission to declare a credible winner on December 7.
Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of
Methodist Church of Ghana, noted that the campaign was
non-partisan and called on Ghanaians to love and care for
each other and not indulge in blame game.
“We believe that as a church we have a prophetic role to
play,” he said.
Professor B.W. Garbrah, Chairman of Initiatives of Change
and Moral Re-armament (MRA)-Ghana, expressed concern about
election campaign which had been marred by violence and
repulsive language by politicians.
He said the campaign was aimed at initiating the healing
process and inspire the electorate to “let by- gone be
by-gone”.
Prof. Garbrah appealed to law enforcement agencies to deal
with criminals behind political violence being perpetuated
in some parts of the country.
Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Member of Parliament for Dome/Kwabenya
and representing the ruling New Patriotic Party said anyone
arrested for allegedly misbehaving during the electioneering
campaign should be punished irrespective of the person’s
political affiliation.
GNA
|
