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Download KAIPTC Newsletter VOLUME 3 August - December 2016 Newsletter 89 security personnel benefit from maiden training course on electoral violence and security page 2 KAIPTC LAUNCHES BOOK on election ahead of December 7 polls t is widely recognized that election periods are usually times of tension in Ghana, when the electoral processes before, during and after the elections Iregisters some unfortunate incidences of violence. Leading up to the December 7 polls, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), launched the second edition of the book, 'Managing Election-Related Conflict and Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana', in September 2016. The book, which is funded by the Governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, interrogates the anomaly of the increasing acceptance and encouragement of violence by political actors and its functional utility in Ghana's democracy from varied perspectives. The event witnessed several dignitaries including government officials, academia, religious leaders, civil society as well as officers from the Ghana Armed forces in attendance. Police Pre-Deployment Training held at the KAIPTC The Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air Vice Marshall Griffiths S. Evans, delivering page 3 his welcome statement stated emphatically that “the future of Ghana's democracy remains fragile; as democratic gains continue to manifest, alongside, a myriad of threats and challenges are also exhibited”. He further stressed that “the greatest source of these threats and uncertainties seems to derive, ironically, from events and processes situated in the electoral process itself”. contd on page 2 Electoral Commission /Ghana Police KAIPTC and African Union KAIPTC and admonish politicians KAIPTC ECOWAS and signal possible holds 9th Protection Commission sign agreement strengthen violence at selected of Civilian Course to counter terrorism in Africa page 3 relations page 4 constituencies page 5 page 8 KAIPTC Newsletter Volume 3 August - December 2016 He shared his disbelief and astonishment at the alarming He concluded the overview by observing that it provides realities of election-related issues described in the book, and national stakeholders and policy makers with analyses for charged all present to acquaint themselves with the book and reference in formulating strategic responses to the issues be apostles and envoys of peace during the upcoming polls. raised to ensure a peaceful and credible electioneering period . in 2016 and beyond. The Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service, Mr. John Kudalor told the gathering that managing elections is a The Most Reverend Prof. Emmanuel Asante, Chairperson of the complex affair, adding that policing elections is a special duty of National Peace Council of Ghana, and the keynote speaker for the police which demands fairness and impartiality. He noted the occasion, stated that the publication of the book could not that the Police Service, through the National Election Security have come at a better time, as Ghana goes to the polls. He was Task Force, has identified cracks that could compromise the delighted that “peaceful, free and fair elections have security of the nation if left unattended to. These challenges, he increasingly become accepted as the best possible means of said are being resolved multi-dimensionally, noting for attaining political office in the country”. example his meetings with key stakeholders including the youth, political party leaders, traditional leaders, religious Rev. Asante lamented that the electoral process is faced with groups, and the media. He urged all to be law abiding citizens many challenges in all three phases (before, during and after during the elections. elections). These include burning and looting of property, seizure of ballot boxes by 'macho men' and unemployed youth, Giving an overview of the contents of the book, the Director of and intimidation and physical assault of voters. the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the KAIPTC, Dr. Kwesi Aning noted that the demeanour among people in In addition he stated that, “other challenges stem from Ghana during election periods defeats theories that, holding intemperate language by political actors, abuse of public law multiple elections leads to a consolidation of democratic and manipulation of religious and ethnic identity for political stability. The lead editor of the book added that the situation purposes”. Rev. Asante revealed that, “The book also identifies creates an urgent sense of insecurity and predisposition to strategic approaches that can help to anticipate and prevent violence in the minds of most Ghanaians. the types of violent conflicts that frequently accompany He noted that there is the possibility of violence erupting in elections in Ghana”. situations where there are already underlying or 'root causes' of conflict. Such causes include the deliberate exclusion of He commended the KAIPTC and its development partners for specific groups from the developmental agenda; a history of this rich resource which would serve as a useful guide to key ethnic and religious tensions; exuberant and idle youth and actors for the December polls and beyond. political vigilante groups ready to be used to fester trouble. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante officially launched the second The book, he noted was timely, as it seeks to address some of edition of the book, and members of the audience received the conceptual as well as practical challenges confronting the personal copies for free. electoral process in Ghana. Its novelty lies in the ability of the Free copies of the book were distributed to key stakeholders authors to use both empirical data and existing literature to throughout the country. throw more light on both old and emerging security threats as well as general challenges to the electoral process in Ghana. 1 KAIPTC Where peace begins... KAIPTC Newsletter Volume 3 August - December 2016 89 Security personnel benefit from maiden training course on electoral violence and security total of eighty-nine (89) personnel drawn from the security He also urged organizations such as Election Management agencies participated in the maiden training session of a Bodies, the Ministry of the Interior and other relevant Acourse in Elections and Security at the KAIPTC. stakeholders to engross themselves in creating a secure Sponsored by the Government of the Federal Republic of election environment by working to develop, implement, and Germany, participants were taken through topics and modules review security measures throughout the electoral process. on Electoral Violence and Security in advance of the December polls in Ghana. The German Ambassador charged civil society, trade unions, religious and traditional leaders, and the media, to secure the Speaking at the opening ceremony of the course, His Excellency electoral environment by mediating, promoting political Christoph Retzlaff, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of tolerance and enhancing public confidence in the electoral Germany, admonished security personnel to ensure the process. December 7 polls was carried out in a free and fair manner devoid of any acts of violence. Commandant of the KAIPTC, AVM Griffiths Evans, shared that the overall goal of the course was to enhance the capacity of He further stated that the security services were responsible for law enforcement agencies in the prevention and safeguarding all persons and resources involved in the electoral management of potential electoral violence. He added that it process, noting that “the law enforcement agencies must take was also expected to provide relevant information and steps to ensure that voters, candidates, poll-workers, observers, fundamental understanding of the roles of the police and and other actors involved in the elections, experience the other stakeholders in the management of the electoral process free from fear or harm, and to ensure that sensitive process. election materials are secured”. He bemoaned recent cases of electoral violence in different forms in Nigeria, La Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana, among other Mr. Retzlaff was of the view that, a large chunk of electoral countries on the continent. This, the Commandant, said stems violence can be prevented if the right steps are taken, stating that out of political, economic and social unrest in society. He effective violence mitigation plans should include identifying admonished the participants to make the course profitable to early warning signs, mobilizing citizen monitoring and mitigation themselves and the nation particularly, by absorbing the efforts, dispatching properly trained security forces, knowledge and experiences that will be shared, in order to coordinating among government agencies and educating the positively impact the electoral process. public. The training course was held for a period of two weeks. 2 KAIPTC Where peace begins... KAIPTC Newsletter Volume 3 August - December 2016 Police Pre-Deployment Training held at the KAIPTC The two- week course, he emphasized, was in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Standard Training Modules for Peace Support Operations. This, he said, gives course participants insight into the philosophy and working methods of UN and AU Missions in general. The Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana, His Excellency Bernhard Abels, in his opening address, noted his country's continuous support to the KAIPTC; “the German Government has supported KAIPTC financially and technically since its inception in 2003 in a wide range of areas…in
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