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Under the auspices of the African Union [AU] and the United Nations Department of Global Engagements [UNDGE], Rectitude International Mission in collaboration with its affiliates; the International Federation for Electoral Observation and Surveillance [IFEOS] and the Investigative Bureau on Conflict Management [IBCOM] have planned to innovate and create the ‘’GHANA NATIONAL ELECTORAL ASSESSMENT CONGRESS [GNEAC] 2020’’.
It is a common effective and impartial vibrant platform to provide a fair equal opportunity and advantage to enable all Political Parties campaign very efficiently, reach every corner in the country, publicly announce their manifestos and share other campaign messages with their electorates.
Due to the current global health threat the Covid-19 pandemic poses to human lives, a lot of normal, public and social activities have had to be either postponed or indefinitely frozen this year.
Political activities, not withstanding, have not been spared. Four years ago, by this time, political parties in Ghana would have been actively campaigning, holding rallies, having their primaries and publicly discussing their manifestos and convincing voters to win their votes.
With the incursion of the global COVID-19 pandemic, countries getting prepared for polls this year are all grounded with all activities on hold.
Unfortunately, it has all been silent up to now. It is not clear what options are available at the moment.
However, there is therefore every need to adjust to the new normal and device other ways and means to get our lives and other social activities back.
Easter was affected, Eid-Fitr was affected, the health system was stretched, many business operations, church service, education, sports activities, social economic activities such as tourism and almost every common basic activity one can think of in one way or the other has been adversely affected.
The GNEAC 2020 platform will provision a level-playing field for all Political Parties in Ghana. As to the magnitude of impact a Political Party makes will all be determined on how sound their manifesto is, how well they communicate or use the provided platform.
It is in the interest of the Executive Council of RECTITUDE INTERNATIONAL MISSION [RIM] and the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR ELECTORAL OBSERVATION AND ECONOMIC SURVEILLANCE [IFEOES] to engage the press [TV, Radio,] for live transmission coverage the print media for delayed coverage to enable political parties reach their audiences with their campaigns in real-time.
All activities will be credible and transparent. RIM and IFEOES will allow political parties to form their own pundits of five [5] representatives led by their flagbearers or the running mates, respectively.
After each campaign on a specific issue or topic is presented, the AUDIENCE ASSESSMENT POOL, an unbiased, balanced team of experts, consultants and technocrats will constitute the PRESS DRILL PANEL and engage the political party on the floor to answer questions on its campaign message, eg. on AGRIC, TRADE, FOREIGN POLICIES, FINANCE, EDUCATION, etc
This initiative aims to open up the underlying opportunities below to all participating political parties to have a smooth enabling campaign platform in the midst of COVID-19.
OBJECTIVES OF GHANA NATIONAL ELECTORAL ASSESSMENT CONGRESS – GNEAC 2020
The platform is set to engage the electorates to discern among political party messages.
The electorate’s mandate to make decisions on preferred candidate will not be thwarted.
To create equal and unbiased campaign platform for all political parties participating in the 2020 elections to campaign.
To deepen democracy on a fairer, wider political grounds towards the 2020 polls.
To sustain and enhance GHANA’S Democratic credence before, during and after the elections.
To fortify GHANA’S Democratic practice to enable political parties to participate in the upcoming elections successfully.
The platform aims to achieve political tolerances without abuse or intimidations.
To engage in political parties to dialogue constructively.
This is an undebatable platform for political parties to present their messages which will be translated in all major Ghanaian languages, including sign language to the electorates.
To maintain standards and instill political discipline in the campaign process.
The platform can be used to target mainly undecided voters, those who tend not to be partial to any party political ideology or otherwise.
The event is expected to run from August 14, 2020 to November 14, 2020 to pave way for all political parties to have equal platform to present their campaign messages to the electorates.
Notwithstanding, RECTITUDE INTERNATIONAL MISSION and the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR ELECTORAL OBSERVATION AND ECONOMIC SURVEILLANCE IFEOES are inviting the United Nations, African Union and other international bodies for collaborations on the GHANA NATIONAL ELECTORAL ASSESSMENT CONGRESS [GNEAC] 2020.
Source: Broadcastergh.com/Ayisah Foster
