Tamale, Sept. 15, GNA - The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), has pledged to join the crusade in educating Ghanaians on the need to ensure violence-free elections in December this year. This was contained in a communiqu=E9 issued in Tamale at the end of the 42nd annual Delegates Congress of NUGS held at the University for Development Studies (UDS) campus at Nyankpala a fortnight ago. The communiqu=E9, which was jointly signed by Mr Kweku Tuoho Bombason, President of NUGS and Mr Tettevi Eyram, Chairman of the Congress, called on the Electoral Commission to ensure that the bloated voter's register was cleaned before December 7.

"In an aggressive pursuit of consolidating our democratic dispensation in maintaining peace, we would respond to the call of ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election before, during and after the electioneering period," the communiqu=E9 said. The 15-point communiqu=E9, among other things, pledged the commitment of NUGS as a bloc, to play an advocacy role on behalf of the various civil, social and pressure groupings to engage in politics devoid of negative propaganda and insults. The NUGS called on students not to allow themselves to be used by politicians and urged them "not to be ignorant on vital national issues, which some politicians are avoiding".

The communiqu=E9 said there was the need to encourage every Ghanaian to exercise his or her franchise in an atmosphere devoid of violence and intimidation. It urged students to scrutinise campaign messages of politicians and added: "We entreat religious leaders particularly, Christians, to use their pulpits to preach peace, which would ensure free, fair and peaceful elections since the election day falls on a Sunday," it stressed. The NUGS said the declaration of the final election results should be left in the hands of the EC without any interference from any political party, be it the incumbent or the opposition. The delegates renewed the call on government to reduce fees charged for Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) sponsored hostels on tertiary campuses saying the current situation undermined the fundamental objective for the establishment of the fund.