NCCE urges electorate to participate in exhibition exercise

Mrs. Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has implored the electorate to participate in the exhibition of the voters register scheduled for October 5, to ensure their eligibility to vote.      She said it was imperative for voters to confirm their names on the register ahead of the election, to afford them ample time to rectify any omission to avoid confrontation with electoral officers on the day of the election.      Mrs Akumanyi said this when addressing a special durbar for traditional rulers, students and political activists at Juansah in the Asante Akim North Municipality.      The durbar, which was organised by the Municipal Directorate of the NCCE to educate the public on peaceful elections was on the theme; 'Ensuring a Peaceful Election 2008'.      The Deputy Chairperson noted that the nation's quest for a peaceful election required the effort of every Ghanaian, and advocated a sustained campaign to that effect by all stakeholders.      She urged all eligible voters to exercise their franchise since, it was their civic responsibility, saying, massive turnout would further enhance democracy and also boost the nation's reputation to the outside world.      She urged Christians not to use church as excuse to abstain from the election and entreated church leaders to hold short services to enable members to participate in the national exercise.      Mr Kusi Aboraa, Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, underscored the need for Ghanaians to tolerate each other's view and desist from utterances that could spark violence.      He urged followers of various political parties to exhibit high sense of decorum during their campaigns, stressing that their actions were crucial to ensuring a peaceful election.      He advised the youth to engage themselves in productive ventures and resist attempts by politicians to use them to achieve their political ambitions at the expense of their future.      Mr Aboraa also challenged women to join the fight against violence in the run-up to the election since they would be worst affected in the event of conflict.      Mr Paul Oppong, Municipal Director of NCCE said the commission was committed to educating the public on their civic responsibilities, adding that, his outfit had held series of fora geared towards peaceful election. GNA