UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By: Millicent L. Dahamani
In the lead-up to Ghana’s December 7, 2024, presidential election, URA Radio’s “Curious Minds” children’s program aired a special segment urging peaceful elections and unity. The broadcast highlighted each citizen’s role in creating a harmonious election atmosphere.
The segment opened with a powerful poem, “I Stand for Peace“, by Ketura Apewe Avio, a student at Our Lady of Lourdes Model Girls’ School. Her poem underscored the divisions created by political allegiances, expressing, “Ghana is now divided into two, one for party A, the other for party B,” and calling for unity above partisan interests.
A discussion followed, led by Chimezie Esther, Our Lady of Lourdes Model Girls’ School and her co-host Abuntatila Pearl, a student of presentation brothers school complex. They engaged Sheik Abubakar Rahman from the Upper East Regional Peace Council, exploring how media, youth, political leaders, and institutions like the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) can contribute to a non-violent election environment.
Sheik Rahman emphasized that peace stems from dialogue and respect, warning that a lack of peaceful elections could compromise services like education and healthcare. He noted that misinformation, ethnic divides, and intimidation can disrupt elections and urged for civic education, transparency, and adherence to electoral rules. Rahman also reminded citizens of the risks of political unrest, cautioning, “When elections aren’t peaceful, we risk a return to military rule.”
The segment closed with a reminder on responsible social media use, encouraging verification before sharing information to prevent misinformation. “Curious Minds” left listeners with a resonant message: “Vote for Peace on December 7, 2024, and not just for a political party.”
