Let us all support the EC to conduct 2012 elections-Aidoo

Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said on Tuesday that it is the responsibility of everybody to police the country's electoral system in the upcoming elections.

He was addressing a parade of security services, cadet corps, community based and voluntary organizations and school children at a ceremony to mark Ghana's 55th independence anniversary at Takoradi.

Mr. Aidoo said the biometric voting alone may not be the panacea to guaranteeing an incidence- free election, adding "Let us be vigilant and avoid activities that would land us into trouble".

He said it was incumbent upon every adult citizen to register and exercise their franchise at elections in order to contribute to the country's democratic development.

Mr. Aidoo said the greatest threat to the country's democratic credentials had been the recent attacks on personalities through insults and reminded the people of the dire consequences of personality attacks.

He urged the public to be cautious of whatever they said about others especially in the presence of microphones.

Mr. Aidoo said, "Obviously, this is not a right way to go and it is against all known norms and practices as a people and also against any shred of decency and decorum" adding, "Insults generate anger which usually triggers off an action, sometimes with dire consequences. Examples of this scenario abound in several countries in Africa and we cannot tread this dangerous path".

He asked parents to send their children to school because there were too many children outside the classroom in the region although education at the basic level is virtually free.

Mr. Aidoo said the results of this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) was nothing to write home about and advised pupils to study very hard and postpone entertainment activities that often took too much of their time. "It takes discipline, hardwork and knowledge to take up modern leadership roles."

Some pupils and students who excelled in the 2011 BECE and the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations were presented with prizes at the function.

At the Junior High School (JHS) level, Master Agyekum-Hene Opanin of the Subri Industrial Plantation District Assembly JHS, won the first prize followed by Miss Leticia Atieku of Golden Star JHS, Bogoso, while Master Michael Baiden Nyarko of the University Basic School picked the third prize.

At the Senior High School level (SHS), Miss Gloria Ofosu Kusi of Archbishop Porter Girls' SHS won the first prize while Master Obed Benyin-Mensah of the Saint Augustine SHS, Bogoso, won the second prize. The third prize went to Master Steve Ganye of Fijai SHS, Sekondi.

All awardees were presented with certificates, cash prizes and laptop computers.