The National Peace Council has called for an end to hate speech in political discourse, citing concerns over its growing prevalence and potential to incite violence ahead of the December 7 general elections.
This appeal was made during a meeting with leaders of alternative political parties. Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Implementation Committee of the Peace Council, expressed that such language poses a serious threat to Ghana’s peace and security. He also cautioned that the use of inflammatory speech encourages young people to adopt similar violent rhetoric.
“You listen to the radio in the morning in Ghana and the only thing you hear is war drums being beaten left, right, centre and back. On the television, there are two or three gentlemen and ladies at each other’s throats, shouting at each other, swearing at each other as if we were in a war-torn country.
Now this is an unhealthy political atmosphere. Since we are the ones living in that atmosphere and unhealthy political atmosphere, let us not deceive ourselves into not knowing that it will certainly affect our health.
