Let’s have credible elections —Kwahu students challenge EC

The National Union of Kwahu Students has challenged the Electoral Commission to rise up to the occasion once again, and ensure a credible electoral process as the nation prepares to go to the polls in December.

According to the group a credible electoral process "built on the principles of transparency and fairness will make the outcome of the December general elections acceptable to all stakeholders."

In a communiqué issued and signed by the National Secretary, Kwabena Amankwah, at the end of its 2008 Annual Easter Congress held at Mpraeso, the Union also called on all political parties in the country "to exhibit civility and decorum in their campaign, and avoid provocative utterances, to prevent needless confrontations that could mar the December general elections and endanger the nation's peace and stability."

The Congress, which was held under the theme, Development in Kwahu-The Role of the Youth, was attended by delegates from the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Education, Winneba, Takoradi Polytechnic and Cape Coast Polytechnic.

The communiqué also called on Members of Parliament, District Chief Executives and the Traditional Authorities in the area to always seek unity with one another "to help create an atmosphere of peace which is a sine qua non for any meaningful development."

The students further commended government for the massive infrastructural projects going on in the Kwahu Traditional Area, as well as the creation of the Kwahu East District out of the Kwahu South District, and the elevation of the Kwahu West District into a Municipality. "It is our conviction that these developments will help accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of our communities," they added.

The group, however, called on government to intensify the pace of work on other projects, such as the Nkawkaw Lorry Park and Kotoso Water projects, and also work on the Mpraeso township roads, "which are in deplorable state and do not befit the status of a district capital."

Touching on development in Kwahu, the communiqué stressed the urgent need for all citizens of the area to show a keener interest in the development agenda of their respective communities, adding "this is because our dream of moving into the realms of accelerated socio-economic development will forever remain a mirage if we fold our arms and expect government to do everything for us."

While pledging their unflinching support for all government interventions targeted at enhancing the socio-economic well-being of the people, the students made a passionate appeal to the District Assemblies in the area "to provide financial support for students in the tertiary institutions, "as their counterparts in other districts do."

Meanwhile, Yaw Owusu Addo, Director of Radio, GBC, has challenged members of the Union to actively involve themselves in the decision and development process of their communities, as well as the nation's politics and governance.

Giving the keynote address at the Congress, the aspiring NPP Parliamentary candidate for Nkawkaw observed that the nation's development agenda would receive a great boost if the youth were development-oriented and concerned about what takes place around them.

Describing the youth in tertiary institutions as the nation's hope for the future, Mr Owusu Addo exhorted them to eschew all negative practices, such as promiscuity, alcoholism and drug abuse, that have the potential to undermine their academic and personal development.

While urging them to monitor the utilisation of both government and communal resources in their communities, he also challenged the students to prepare and mobilise themselves well to spearhead the development agenda of the Kwahu community.

The Managing Director of JK Royal Friends, J K Ampadu, who chaired the programme, urged the students to be worthy role models for the young ones, and also support the development efforts of their communities.

The District Chief Executive for Kwahu North, Solomon Yaw Fordjour, appealed to the students to support the NPP government to retain power in the December election, to continue the massive development being undertaken in the Kwahu community.

By Kwabena Amankwah