{"id":597493,"date":"2019-03-08T21:17:22","date_gmt":"2019-03-08T21:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"
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The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) says the recent actions of the country\u2019s biggest political parties\u2019 smack\u00a0of political hypocrisy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Josephine Nkrumah told Evans Mensah on Joy FM\u2019s Ghana Connect programme that the actions of the\u00a0<\/span>National<\/span><\/span> Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) make\u00a0people doubt politicians when they speak. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI would like to see the politicians begin to act in the manner that restores the citizenry\u2019s confidence in the country\u2019s political process. A lot of the apathy we see is because people don\u2019t trust the politicians and such actions are\u00a0beginning to re-emphasise that mistrust,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

Her comment follows a <\/span>recent<\/span><\/span> leaked tape in which a voice alleged to be that of NDC National Chair, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, is heard\u00a0speaking about several issues with some party thugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Some of the issues included attacks on the Electoral Commission Chair, Mrs. Jean Mensa\u00a0as well as the Chairman of the Peace Council, Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>Mr.<\/span><\/span> Ofosu Ampofo denied saying it was a doctored tape. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many were surprised because he has openly called for the disbandment of party militias a\u00a0<\/span>few<\/span><\/span> days prior to the tapes surfacing. <\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday, <\/span>government<\/span> moved to clear out a party militia group that had\u00a0been training at the <\/span>Christiansborg<\/span><\/span> Castle, the\u00a0former seat of government.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This followed a Joy News expos\u00e9 done by Joy News\u2019, Manasseh Azure Awuni, which showed the group has been using the facility for training since the Akufo-Addo government was sworn in.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a slap in the face of the President calling on the leadership of the NDC and NPP meeting to disband party militia groups. <\/span><\/p>\n

NDC, NPP meeting<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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Regarding the meeting, she said the NCCE is willing, able and competent to facilitate a meeting between the two political parties. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have also worked closely with the National Peace Council and we are ready to mediate this meeting. We are even ready to bring in other important institutions like the Small Arms Commission,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to her, disbanding party militias is only the first step in a complex roadmap. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen you disband them, what happens to the weapons that they have? What kind of job opportunities do we have for them and what skill sets are we equipping them with,\u201d she queried. <\/span><\/p>\n

Madam Nkrumah is concerned about how the party militia phenomenon is affecting the national psyche and for citizens to live a responsible life. <\/span><\/p>\n

She said citizens should question themselves if their actions become dangerous to the collective interest of society. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe must also look at the appointment processes of the security agencies, security of tenure and what we can do to build confidence in the Ghana Police again,\u201d she said. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The NCCE boss wants Ghanaians to start acting so election 2020 will be peaceful and strengthening her democracy. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n