Ashaiman to ensure incidence free elections

Ashaiman (G/A), Aug. 6, GNA - Political parties and youth groups at Ashaiman on Thursday resolved to avoid political disturbances and all other acts that could tarnish the image of the area and undermine the success of Election 2004.

They made the pledge in an eight-point resolution adopted at the end of a two-day seminar on: "Ensuring Free, Fair and Peaceful Elections" organised by the Tema Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at Ashaiman.

There was consensus on the need to ensure that two political parties should not be allowed to hold political rallies on the same day. On voting day, voters must leave their polling stations immediately after exercising their franchise, but could return later for the counting of the votes.

Display of party colours on elections day would not be tolerated. The two groups agreed that party agents who were found drank should be sanctioned

Participants at the seminar expressed concern about perceived strained relations between Former President Jerry John Rawlings and President John Agyekum Kufuor and called on the Christian Council of Ghana, members of the Council of State and other stakeholders to re-unite the two.

They condemned the use of abusive language during phone in programmes of FM stations and asked the relevant authorities to ban the practice before it degenerated into a security problem.

The Right Reverend Kwaku Asamoah-Okyere, Superintendent Minister of Ashaiman Circuit of the Methodist Church, reminded religious leaders not to turn the churches into political platforms to avoid party conflicts and jeopardise the neutrality of the church.

Mr Ebenezer Tetteh-Wayo, the Municipal Director of the NCCE, urged the public to place the sustenance of democracy, development and the interest of the nation above all considerations for national peace and tranquillity.