Nana Serwah Brakatuo, Abakomahemaa of Abetifi-Kwahu and representative of the Ghana Queen Mothers Foundation, has urged the public to use respectful and considerate language as the elections draw near.
“Words can build bridges, understanding and cooperation, but they can also destroy the very fabric of our society, divide communities, incite violence and erode the democratic values we all hold dear,” she warned.
She appealed to the public to avoid the “trap of spreading false information, or using language that could inflame tensions”.
She underlined while “elections come and go,” what “must endure long after the ballots are cast” was “our relationships and the bond we share as Ghanaians”.
Nana Serwah Brakatuo spoke at the Championing Peaceful Elections 2024: The Role of All Ghanaians programme by the Centre for Africa Development & Progress (CADeP).
Considering the theme: ‘Ensuring true leadership for democratic stability and advancement in Ghana’, she asked presidential and parliamentary candidates to be mindful “of the words you use on the campaigns” avoiding words that would incite destructive “hatred or division”.
While “we understand elections are competitive,” she emphasised, “no election is worth the cost of our national unity”.
She called on traditional media and “online platforms to be vigilant and responsible in the dissemination of information”.
“The media must play its crucial role in countering hate speech and fake news, ensuring that the public is informed with facts not rumours or inflammatory rhetoric,” she stressed.
With the December 7 elections drawing near, she challenged all to commit to rejecting hate speech in all forms, embracing peaceful dialogue and to acting as ambassadors of unity “for our beloved country”.
The 2024 elections must “strengthen our democracy rather than divide our people,” Nana Serwah Brakatuo concluded.