NCCE, others school aspiring parliamentarians on peaceful elections

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the Christian, Muslim and Suhum Traditional councils, has organized a one-day workshop for five parliamentary aspiring candidates of the Suhum Constituency, in the Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar District.

The workshop, which was basically to outline and emphasise on the need to ensure peace and unity before, during, and after the December 7 elections, under the theme, “Peace for Development 2008,” was attended by all the five aspirants who are seeking the mandate of the people of the area.

The five include the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) Mr. Frederick Opare Ansah, Mr. Samuel Kwabi, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Francis Nkum, Convention Peoples Party, and Matilda Gabrah, an independent candidate.

Addressing the participants, the Eastern Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr. Emmanuel Quaye- Sowah, called on the aspirants to adhere to the rules and regulations that govern the electioneering process in the country, and also desist from any acts of violence, since elections were about the contest of ideals and exercise of franchise.

Even though the participants were asked to abide by the laws governing the elections, Mr. Quaye-Sowah urged them to allow vigilance to replace mutual suspicion, which according to him, could eliminate any potential conflicts and violence.

The District Director of the NCCE, Mr. Anthony Chipro, on his part, advised well-meaning Ghanaians not to be interested in only electing or voting for a candidate, but also monitor their performances after the election, in order to make a sound decision during subsequent elections.

He further asked the electorate to remember Article 42 of the Constitution, which said “every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above and of sound mind has to register and vote for the purpose of public elections and referenda.”

Even though the constitution mandates every Ghanaian to vote, it was paramount for Ghanaians, who are capable of voting, to observe the “Dos and Don'ts” of elections, in order to promote peace and unity, he mentioned.

The aspirants, in separate speeches read, promised their preparedness to support and embark on incident-free and fair campaigns, in order to bring peace before, during, and after the elections.