NCCE needs 14.5 billion cedis for 2004 activities

Accra, Jan.5, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Monday said it needed 14.5 billion cedis as its budget to enable it to carry on its constitutional activities for this year with focus on the December Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Mr Laary Bimi, Chairman of the NCCE who made this known to the Ghana News Agency, said 14.1 billion cedis was being sought from the donor community while the Government made up the difference. Activities lined up for the year include an interactive session with media practitioners and a workshop for youth leaders of political parties.

Mr Bimi said the NCCE would meet with the Leadership of the various political parties to discuss the ways and means to ensure a free, fair and non-violent election.

The Commission would also facilitate the mounting of joint platforms for Presidential Candidates to outdoor their various manifestoes.

"I would be glad if the Information Services Department would cede 10 of their mobile vans to the Commission to promote our educational programmes."

He also appealed to the Government to provide the NCCE with vehicles and other logistics to enhance its work.

Mr Bimi called for cordial institutional relations with the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure the successful conduct of the general election.

He said one area of special interest to the NCCE was the sharing of information on all aspects of the elections so that collaborative work plans could be developed.

He said the only guarantee for incident-free elections rested on the citizenry being alive to their civic responsibilities.

"There will be no chaos if no political party takes advantage of the ignorance of the electorate to cheat on polling day."

On protestations about the decision by the EC to create additional 30 constituencies, Mr Bimi said, the issue should be tested at the Supreme Court.

He said, although, the creation of new constituencies was in line with the mandate of the EC, "the bone of contention is the interpretation of Article 46, clause six that has to do with the time when the constituencies should become operational".

The Article reads: "Where the boundaries of a Constituency established under this article are altered as a result of a review, the alteration shall come into effect upon the next dissolution of Parliament. 05 Jan. 04