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17.09.2004 Politics

EC commended for extending period of photo-taking exercise

17.09.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Kumasi, Sept 17, GNA -The Electoral Commission (EC) has been commended for deeming it prudent to extend the opportunity for taking of photos for the voters identification (ID) cards to September 30. Mr Salifu Boarle, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) secretary for Asawasi constitutency who made the commendation, said the initiative is indicative of how concerned the EC was about coming out with more accepted voters register.

Mr Boarle made the commendation in Kumasi on Tuesday at a capacity building programme organised by the Asawasi constituency of the party for party's women organisers.

He advised members of the party who have registered but have not yet taken their photos to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the EC and do so promptly.

Mr Boarle said registering and not being in possession of a photo voters ID card would be meaningless to the party since such a member would not have the mandate to vote at the elections.

Mrs Agatha Abrafi, Ashanti Regional Women's Organiser of the party, was not happy that even though women comprised a large membership of the NDC, they have not been able to make the desired impact, especially in winning more members to the fold of the party.

She advised them to, therefore, shake themselves of fears and shyness and embark on house-to-house campaign coupled with the use of personal contacts as a strategy to help win more people to the NDC. Dr Adamu Gibiril, NDC parliamentary candidate for Asawasi, said his focus, if elected, would be to improve upon the quality of education in the area and also help set up schemes for the training of the unemployed in various vocational skills.

He noted that unemployment was a major problem in the constituency and imparting vocational and employable skills to the youth, they would be able to become self-employed thereby reducing the unemployment rate in the constituency.

Hajia Hajara Adamu, the constituency women's organiser, called on women members of the party to sacrifice more time and energy to let the NDC win at all cost, saying, "elections are not won by mere slogans and songs but by action".

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