The President of the Civil Society Organisation’s (CSOs) Platform on Good Governance, Alhaji Mohamed Awal has stated that government together with an active civil society have a common responsibility of ensuring that democracy is well practiced in order for the citizenry realize the gains.
He said CSOs and the media especially must work together to enhance the democratic process by not only documenting the positives of a democracy, but also highlighting the challenges along the path so that amendments can be made.
Alhaji Awal who is also the Executive Director for NORSAAC, a rights based NGO stated this at a briefing in Tamale organized by the CSOs platform on Good Governance with support from Empowerment for Life and DANIDA to commemorate International Democracy Day.
The briefing which highlighted major progresses as well as challenges in Ghana’s democratic development, was held under the theme: “Covid 19: a spotlight on Democracy,” had representatives from CSOs, the media and political parties taking part in the interactive session.
Relating Democracy to the theme for the celebration, Alhaji Awal acknowledged that the Covid 19 posed new challenges to development however; the subsequent enactment of legislations to deal with the pandemic’s management, should not be used as a decoy by governments from upholding the rule of law or shrinking the space for CSOs including the media to operate freely.
“Democracy is creating fear and panic and leaders have a responsibility to ensuring that democracy is well practiced,” Alhaji Awal stated.
The CSOs platform on good governance further urged Ghanaians to safeguard the country’s democracy by avoiding acts that would derail the entire process.
Mr. Philip Gmabi, reading a statement on behalf of the Executive Director of the Ghana Developing Communities Association, Alhaji Osman Abdul-Rahaman said Ghana is a cradle of peace and all stakeholders should consolidate the gains.
“We should strive against Vigilantism, and electoral violence, media should avoid sensationalism, rumor mongering and politics of insults. The politics of ethnicity must also be done away with.”
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2007, passed a resolution that September 15, every year should be observed as International Day of Democracy. The goals of the celebration has been to promote governments’ role in maintaining open democracy, celebrate systems and values of democracy as well as giving a voice to all citizens within the UN member nations.
Story By: Nelson Nyadror Adanuti
