Commission to investigate violence and intimidation in 2008 elections

Kumasi June 23, GNA - Mr. Daniel Ohene-Agyekum, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged government to set up a Presidential Commission to investigate allegations on violence and intimidations made by leading political parties during the 2008 general elections.

He said if this is done, it would help cool down the ill-feelings some people have in them and also help to resolve some of the problems in the nation's electoral processes in future.

Mr. Ohene-Agyekum was speaking at the inauguration of the Umbrella Unit for Action and Loyalty, a group within the NDC in Kumasi on Monday. It was under the theme; "Unity and Solidarity, the Prerequisite Tool for NDC towards a Better Ghana."

The Regional Chairman indicated that the government would not shirk its responsibility to do the right thing, and appealed to members of the group to assist the government to uproot corruption in the country. He said the NDC government under President Mills would use tact and civilized means to build the country, and stressed the need for members holding key positions to be very conscious in the discharge of their duties so that they do not fall into political snares and temptations. Mr. Frank Osei-Mensah, Former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Party and a Patron of the group pledged his support for it. He called on the members to be dynamic and proactive and try to establish a public relations and information committee, to be responsible for educating the public on government policies and programmes.

Mr. Osei-Mensah urged them to eschew intra-party conflicts and make discipline their guiding principles at all levels, as they assist the government to accelerate the development of the country. Mr. Samuel Yaw Adusei, Secretary to the group said they were ready to move from constituencies to constituencies, regions to regions, to assist the party executives to effect organization of party activities in all areas.

He said, "It is our aim to resource the party and the government with talented and well trained youth, adding that they were ready to assist the government to resource its research department, to effect prompt information and quality communication delivery to the people at the grassroots".

Alhaji Latif Madjoub, Adansi North District Chief Executive, and Mr. Alexander Ackon, Obuasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, called on members to work in close collaboration with the executives in their membership drive, so that the party retains power in 2012 elections. The Association has Mr. Ebenezer Ekow-Ayehu as Chairman, Mr. Samuel Yaw Adusei, Secretary, Mr. Larbi, Treasurer with Mr. Abdulai Omaru as Organizer.