Stop registering minors for 2012 biometric registration exercise– Dr Duffuor

Dr Kwabena Duffuor, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, has appealed to politicians to desist from encouraging children under 18 years to register in the ongoing biometric registration exercise.

He said such acts could create difficulties in the lives of the children involved.

Dr Duffuor said this when speaking to newsmen at the end of this year’s annual Kumawuman Easter Soccer Gala at Kumawu, in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of Ashanti Region.

He was of the view that, since many Ghanaians profess to be Christians, God fearing and peace loving people, they should trust genuinely in the Almighty God to give us leaders of His choice as President and Members of Parliament.

He said registering under-aged children could have serious repercussions on the integrity of both the children and the perpetrators of such nefarious acts, adding that for children “it affects their future career, while for those power seekers, it casts a slur on their sense of integrity and trustworthiness and questions the credibility and objectivity of our democratic system”.

Dr Duffuor appealed to all Ghanaians to help ensure a clean and peaceful biometric registration exercise and thereby sustain the true democracy in Ghana.

On the soccer competition, five teams out of the eight teams who competed last year, took part in this year’s edition, which included Dr Kwabena Duffuor Youth Foundation, Kumawuman Rural Bank, Parliament Keep Fit Club, Pepease and Abotanso – the defending champions.

Parliament Keep Fit Club emerged the overall champions for this year, after beating Kumawuman Rural Bank 2-0 in the grand final, to lift the Dr Kwabena Duffuor Trophy at stake while Best Player Award went to Nurain Sahh (aka Saviola) of Kumawuman Rural Bank.

In his closing remarks, the Patron of the Dr Kwabena Duffuor Youth Foundation, Mr R.T. Osei-Bobie, said such programmes are organised during the Easter festivities, to foster unity amongst the people in the communities.

He said the occasion is also in recognition and honour of Dr Kwabena Duffuor, for his exploits and achievements as a true Statesman of Ghana.

The Patron later commended the Chairman of the Dr Kwabena Duffuor Youth Foundation, Mr Daniel Yeboah and his members for their spirit of voluntarism and dedication to the development of the communities in the Kumawu Traditional Area.

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Sanaahene, Nana Ofori Amponsah, Saamanhene, Nana Ababio II, Barima Kyeame Kodua Bempa, all of Kumawu and Nana Okyere Baffuor, Abotanso-Amanfrom Odikro. **