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Politics of Friday, 7 November 2008

Source: GNA

Parties urged to educate supporters on voting procedure

Assin Kyekyewere (C/R), Nov. 07, GNA - The Assin South District Director of the National commission for Civic Education, Mr. Alphonsus Arthur has called on political parties to educate the electorate on the voting procedure to avert waste ballot papers. Mr. Arthur pointed out that ballot papers not properly thumb-printed could be a recipe for confusion between party agents. He called on the parties to undertake house-to-house campaign to make their supporters know their position on the ballot paper and how thumbprint their ballot paper so that it did not spill over into the column of other parties.

He made the call at an outreach programme by the commission to educate the electorate on how to ensure a peaceful poll on December 7. The NCCE District director noted that political tension, which seemed to be mounting in the country was due to mistrust and disrespect among the parties, especially the New Patriotic Party (MNPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He pointed out that until the NPP and the NDC acknowledged that their opponents achieved something for the nation during their tenure of office, this bitter rivalry would continue, leading to tension. Mr Arthur appealed to the parties to stop personal attacks and concentrate on issues and how they would solve problems facing the country. He appealed to all those who had roles to play in the polling process to ensure that they did only what the electoral laws permitted. "Democracy in Ghana has travelled a long way, therefore let us protect it to make the nation a beacon of hope for other African countries," he stressed. The outreach programme had taken the NCCE to many communities in the district including Nyankomase Ahenkro, Manso, Nsuta and Gyakai. 07 Nov. 08