‘Don’t Intimidate Electorate’-NCCE Tells Political Parties

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE),Mr Charles Kofi Nkrumah, has appealed to political parties to allow the electorate to choose their leaders during the December elections without any intimidation. Speaking at a forum organised by the International Movement of Catholic Students of Sunyani Polytechnic, Mr Nkrumah also urged the youth not to clamour for political favours in their decision making process. He said they should vote with their conscience so as to ensure that the right leaders were elected to help contribute to national development. He advised them against discriminatory tendencies were inimical to the country’s development. The NCCE director reminded the youth of their duty to help promote and maintain peace and stability during the elections. Mr Nkrumah said the youth were particularly critical because they were the dynamo of political campaigns. “They are the most active in society and are always in the fore front of any violent political campaign” he added. Mr. Nkrumah noted with regret that the youth had been used and misused during political campaigns. Professor Akwasi Nsia Gyabaah, Rector of Sunyani Polytechnic, in an address read for him, stated that the youth needed the right sense of direction, orientation and attitude so they would not be used by misguided individuals for selfish gains. He called on the youth to read widely, learn hard so they could make critical analysis of issues and make appropriate choices to help promote national development. Prof Gyabaa appealed to parents, teachers, religious leaders and the media to collaborate with the NCCE to help create awareness among the youth to avoid acts that would create unnecessary tension or strife during the elections. “We must guard and protect the peace we are enjoying and promote acts that would bring harmony and unite us as one people towards the improvement in our lives by uprooting poverty and ignorance from society” he stressed. Mr. James Oppong Boanu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, warned the youth to desist from multiple registration and voting, as well as the presentation of fake identity cards during the elections.