CENFAD-GHANA organizes workshop on peaceful elections in Upper East

Tongo (UE), April 26, GNA - The Centre for Alternative Development (CENFAD-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, NGO) has initiated measures to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent Elections in December 7, in the Uppers East Region.

The NGO, which seeks to promote good governance, with sponsorship from STAR-Ghana, would collaborate with stakeholders in the region to achieve the objective.

The NGO on Wednesday organised a regional stakeholders consultation workshop at Tongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District, which attracted representatives from all political parties in the region, chiefs, journalists and Assembly Members.

It was on the theme: “Promoting Transparent, Fair and Peaceful 2012 Election in Upper East Region.”

The Programme Coordinator of CENFAD-GHANA, Mr Martin Abelwine, said that the workshop aimed at soliciting stakeholders support towards the achievement of the objective.

He said the one-year project, among other things would identify and mitigate possible conflicts in trouble spots within the region.

Mr Abelwine said conflict mitigation committees, youth voter awareness campaign platform, women and youth voter registration drives, would be established to enhance the initiative of the NGO

He said the NGO would monitor activities of political parties organise radio discussions involving traditional rulers, officials of the Electoral Commission, security experts, National Commission for Civic Education personnel, on conflict prevention, electoral rights and responsibilities and political tolerance.

Mr Abelwine said the NGO would instigate arliamentary debates among parliamentary aspirants in six constituencies in the region, make follow ups on issues agreed upon during the debates and support the police, judiciary and EC to ensure peaceful elections.

Participants at the meeting commended STAR-Ghana for sponsoring the NGO to undertake the project to ensure peaceful elections.

They called on the EC to recruit people who are conversant with the communities to undertake registration and other electoral duties, and expressed worry that some officials undertaking the ongoing biometric voters registration where not familiar with the names of the people.

They also urged chiefs in the region to encourage their people to participate in the ongoing biometric voters' registration and the impending December 7 Election.

GNA