Africa must do more to overcome electoral violence – Group

Women’s Situation Room (WSR), an international gender-based consultative group, has expressed concern about recurring electoral violence, plaguing the African continent and said this could not continue.

Ms. Barbara Sangare, the group’s International Coordinator, said the situation was undermining democracy and political stability.

She asked that political party leaders and their supporters’ accepted to abide by the electoral laws, and used appropriate legal channels to resolve disputes or any misunderstanding.

She was speaking at a day’s orientation course for the WSR-Ghana Working Group in Kumasi.

The programme, sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was meant to assist empower the participants to support Ghana’s effort at making this year’s election, peaceful.

Ms. Sangare indicated that political stability was fundamental to the building of a harmonious and prosperous society.

The group had already engaged the National Peace Council (NPC), Electoral Commission (EC), religious organizations, media and the security agencies to find ways to prevent trouble.

The goal, she said, was to have in place early warning systems and control measures.

Ms. Sangare announced plans by the WSR to embark on peace march across the nation, to bring home to the people the need to uphold the law and work together to safeguard the peace.

Chancellor Yvette Chesson-Wureh, Initiator of the WSR, said it was going to set up a call centre on the day of voting to receive complaints from identified flashpoints.

These complaints, she said, would be relayed to the right authorities for prompt redress.

Source: GNA