The National Commission on Culture (NCC), in partnership with National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has launched the maiden edition of ‘Theatre for Peaceful Election’ project to promote peace and harmony towards the upcoming elections.

The project will use theatre to promote peace, as theatre is a powerful tool for communicating, presenting, and mobilizing the citizenry for a peaceful election.

The project would bring together stakeholders, traditional authorities, students and other organizations to educate them, share ideas to promote peaceful coexistence, love, harmony and tolerance during and after the election period.

Nana Otuo Owoahene Agheampong, Executive Director, NCC, said, theatre, an art form, spoke directly to the hearts, evoking emotions, inspiring actions, and fostering dialogue, and has been a mirror of society, reflecting on realities, hopes and dreams.

He said the ‘Theatre for Peaceful Elections’ programme was aimed at using the creative arts to communicate the importance of peace, tolerance and respect for one another regardless of political affiliations.

He said elections served as the cornerstone of democracy, a reflection of the people’s will, aspirations, and choices for the future which provided the opportunity to choose leaders to guide the nation towards progress and development.

The Executive Director said, even though the country had been celebrated for its democratic credential and vibrant culture, “we cannot ignore the dark shadows that has marred our democratic processes.”

“Past elections have sometimes been accompanied by disturbances and conflicts leading to unrest and division among our people,”he added.

He noted that the nation had faced moments of heightened anxiety and contention in similar elections from 2008 to 2020 and these instances serve as sad reminders of the fragility of peace and there must be concerted efforts to safeguard it.

Nana Agheampong said disturbances in elections did not only threaten immediate stability but also have far- reaching consequences on progress and development.

“When peace is compromised, it undermines the confidence of our citizens, disrupts economic activities, and hampers the growth and prosperity that we all strive for. More importantly it erodes the very fabric of our unity and shared identity as Ghanaians.”

He urged all citizens to use every collective efforts to uphold values that binds the nation and use the opportunity to build bridges, foster dialogue and create a culture of peace that would resonate across generations.

“Let us remember that peace is not just the absence of conflict, it is the presence of justice, equality and respect for human rights” he added.

Mr Mawuli Agbenu, Regional Director, NCCE, said, elections were very peaceful processes for arriving at a collective decision, advising citizens to consider the policies of politicians instead of being influenced by partisan colours.

He urged citizens to be careful with the information they share and take. “We must fact- check the information to ensure that the information we share especially on social media are accurate and credible.”

Dr Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq, Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, said the use of creative arts for peaceful elections was very effective because it takes into consideration all the domains of learning, the mind, the heart and the body.

He said such creative pieces included three fundamental areas of democratic principles, ethnic diversity, interfaith harmony, and youthful engagement.

“These are the tools for cultivating the culture of democratic governance and national development.”

He assured that the National Chief Imam was solidly behind this show of novelty, creativity, unity and stability, adding that the forthcoming election was not a war front but an opportunity for all to reaffirm their commitment to the consolidation of constitutional order and good governance.

Dr Marzuq commended the NCC and NCCE for coming together to put up the beautiful piece that stood to enhance the quality of constitutionalism in the country.