Offinso (Ash), Sept 18, GNA - Mr Kusi Abora, the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has appealed to people to refrain from scolding others for identifying with particular political parties. He said since all people cannot belong to one political party, it would be undemocratic to condemn somebody who shows particular interest or support for a political party of his or her choice.

Mr Abora was speaking on "Deepening Ghana's Democratic Process Through Political Tolerance" at a public forum on political tolerance organised by the Offinso District directorate of the NCCE for political parties and other political stakeholders. The Regional Director urged party leaders to preach change and understanding of democracy to ensure peaceful and successful elections this year. "We are all brothers and sisters and what we need is peace, unity, development and nothing else". Mr Joseph Yaw Oduro, the Offinso District Chief Executive, called for an end to infighting and undermining within political parties in the district. "If we are struggling to end inter-party conflicts and insults, why should there be intra-party problems at a time the nation is preparing for elections?"

The DCE appealed to the people to take active interest in other important issues such as health and sanitation, education, environmental degradation and communal labour as a way to support the development of the district in addition to political activities.

Nana Wiafe Akenten III, the Paramount Chief of Offinso Traditional Area, stressed the need for the NCCE to regularly meet media practitioners to brainstorm on how the media should go about their work of facilitating national peace and integration. He expressed concern about how the media were fuelling trouble on discussions on pertinent issues in the country and said it was time some measures were taken to curb the situation to avoid national upheaval.

Mr Kwaku Appiah-Kagya, the District Director of the NCCE, said the nation has had a chequered political history and that it was the wish of all Ghanaians that the 1992 constitution stood the test of time. He said though Ghana is a multi-ethnic, religious and multi-party society, it was imperative that people learn to co-exist peacefully irrespective of their cultural and political differences. Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Addai, a former Offinso District Chief Executive and chairman of Offinso North and South Co-ordinating Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), called on the government to adequately resource the NCCE to effectively provide quality civic education in the country.