The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has expressed concern over the growing trend of monetisation in Ghana’s political landscape.
She warned that it could have dangerous consequences.
Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on “Peace Beyond Election 2024: The Role of the Ghanaian Citizen,” she stated that using money to influence voters risks undermining democracy.
“If we continue to indulge in this culture of giving out money and demanding money as part of the electoral process, we are going to find ourselves in dangerous zones,” she warned, adding, “It is almost like we’ve put our democracy out there for sale.”
Madam Addy noted that the NCCE is launching an awareness programme to educate citizens and politicians on the dangers of monetisation in politics.
She also highlighted another significant threat—fake news, disinformation, and misinformation—as it undermines social cohesion and endangers the stability of the state.
Madam Addy urged citizens to avoid engaging with such content to help maintain peace and unity.
Additionally, the NCCE Chairperson said the Commission is working on promoting religious tolerance in Ghana’s political culture, with an agreement among faith leaders to prevent religion from becoming a divisive factor.
The commission is also focusing on curbing political violence, the use of insults, and intemperate language during campaigns.