The Command encouraged them to preach peace among themselves and urge others to do the same to ensure that the upcoming elections were conducted in a peaceful environment devoid of disturbances.

The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ziaullah Khalil Ibrahim, gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Paga, after he addressed the youth on their role in promoting peace at a sensitization programme.

The programme, with funding support from the European Union (EU), was organized at the instance of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to highlight the importance of non-violence and encourage peaceful participation in the election.

The engagement, which was also on peaceful coexistence, was on the theme: “Together we can build Ghana, so get involved”.

ASP Ibrahim said, “We expect the youth to preach peace, educate their family and community members on peaceful coexistence and inter-faith tolerance. We want to encourage the youth not to engage in any form of violence as we go into the elections”.

He said the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with other security agencies would work together effectively to ensure a peaceful election process, “We are warning the youth to desist from any form of violence and to embrace peace.

“We expect the youth to be calm, cast their votes, go home until 1700hours after the counting starts; they can go and observe from a distance. We will take measures to cordon the place, and so we expect them not to interfere in the counting process,” the Commander said.  

Mr Robert Dampare, the District Director of the NCCE, said the Commission undertook engagements with youth groups in the district as part of planned activities under the EU supported project dubbed “Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE)”.

He emphasized the need for civic engagements among the youth to foster a sense of unity, belongingness and patriotism for peaceful elections, and further advised them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to perpetuate violence.

Some youth after the programme, told the Ghana News Agency that the engagement was timely and that they would propagate the message to their colleagues to ensure that the District remained calm before, during and after the elections.