Campaign to whip-up enthusiasm in Election 2012 to be launched

Operation “Get Involved Platforms,” a political civic education advocacy campaign to whip-up enthusiasm in Election 2012 will be launched in Ghana on May 29.

The project being sponsored by STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism (Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID) to increase the influence of civil society, is being implemented by Socioserve-Ghana (SSG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the Asuogyaman District.

In a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Ms Rita Ntoso, SSG Programme Manager, said the Get Involved Platform seeks to strengthen the pillars of Ghana’s democracy and ensure free, fair and violence-free elections.

She said SSG in collaboration with the Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC), and Rite 90.1FM, a local radio station, would also use the platform to promote issue-based campaign during the upcoming 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The project to be launched at Brekumanso Durbar Grounds near Asamankese in the Lower West Akim District, would bring together representatives of all political parties and traditional religious leaders.

Others institutions to participate in the platform are State Agencies such as the Ghana Police Service, National Commission for Civic Education and the Electoral Commission, to address electorate on pertinent issues regarding the upcoming polls.

According to Ms Ntoso, the project aims at promoting issue-based campaigning and voting as well as creating a platform, for aspiring Members of Parliament to engage in healthy debate so that the electorate would assess their capability and vision.

She commended officials of National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, Convention Peoples Party, and People’s National Convention and Progressive People’s Party for their cooperation and support.

The project is being implemented in Asuogyaman, Lower Manya, Fanteakwa, Nsawam Adoagyire, Suhum, Ayensuano, Kade, Lower West Akim and Nkawkaw constituencies in the Eastern Region.**