General News of Thursday, 2 December 2010

Source: GNA

EC, NCCE, ISD to whip up interest in District Assembly Election

Bolgatanga, Dec.2, GNA- The Electoral Commission (EC), National Civic Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Service Department(ISD) are partnering to whip up interest in the forth coming District Assembly election slated for December 28, this year. The three organizations on Wednesday held a day's workshop in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Region and came out with an action plan on how to effectively carry out the operation.

Addressing the participants at the day's workshop, Commissioner of the EC in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr David Adenze Kanga, entreated them to view the exercise with seriousness by embarking on a vigorous campaign drive that would get more people interested in the exercise. He said unlike the Presidential and Parliamentary elections where political parties got involved thereby getting many people to participate in them, the District Assembly Election is organised on non-partisan basis. The Regional ISD officer, Mr Nelson Mba, said the mission falls in line with ISD's mandate of informing and educating the public on government policies.

He indicated that information vans and Public Address System would be used to support the campaign

"We would move from community to community day and night to screen education programmes on the importance of the District Assembly Election." The Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Peter Hastings Mensah, said the District Assembly election was very crucial for national development because it formed the basis for good democratic governance. He said Ghana's democracy would be greatly enhanced if structures at the grassroots like the District Assemblies were given the needed attention and entreated everybody to get involved. "NCCE staffs are already in the field educating the people and encouraging them to actively participate in the forthcoming District Assembly election. "

The day's workshop on the theme:" Harnessing the Resources of EC, NCCE, and ISD for improved Citizen Participation in the 2010 District Assembly Election", was facilitated by the EC in collaboration with KAB Governance Consult. 02 Dec 10