'Avoid provocations as country prepares for elecions', Friday, March 23, 2012, pg 17

The Global Evangelical Church is appealing to all political parties to avoid provocative language as the country girds its loins for electioneering. “We are also calling on political parties to condemn wrong actions of their supporters so that we will be able to have a peaceful election,” the Moderator of the Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Edem Tettey, told the Daily Graphic. The moderator, who spoke on the sidelines of an induction ceremony of directors of the church, stated that it was important for all Ghanaians to exercise self control before, during and after the elections to protect the peace of the country. “Tolerance is very necessary as the campaign season sometimes gets heated up and people become too passionate,” he stated. He, however, said freedom of expression was not a license to spew out things that had the possibility of damaging the reputation of others. While commending the media for playing its watch dog role, Rt. Rev Dr. Tettey also noted with concern the partisan reportage that was eating deep into the media and eroding objectivity, accuracy and balance. “We want to appeal to the media to use the opportunity this year’s election presents to tell the whole world that they have advanced and matured under our democratic dispensation,” the Moderator said. He lamented the increased political polarization and intolerance saying “we must respect each other and ban people who hide behind freedom of speech and say just anything from the airwaves.”