By P. K. Yankey
Axim (W/R), August 11, GNA – The Paramount Chief of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, Awulae Attibrukusu III, has advised parents to advise their children against snatching of ballot boxes from polling stations and collation centres during the upcoming elections.
He asked politicians who enticed the youth with money to indulge in such acts to put a stop to it.
Awulae Attibrukusu III noted that elections offered a platform for the citizenry to exercise their franchise by making a decision on which political party or individual should govern them.
He was addressing the Lower Axim Traditional Council meeting at Axim in the Nzema-East Municipality of the Western Region.
The Paramount Chief said all political actors ought to give the electoral process a chance in the spirit of free, fair, and transparent elections.
Awulae Attibrukusu III noted that the phenomenon whereby some politicians snatched ballot boxes and destroyed them did not augur well for Ghana’s democratic path.
He appealed to security agencies who would police the polls to be vigilant and protect every single ballot.
That, he noted, would ensure that leaders who were chosen to administer affairs of the nation, represented the will of the people.
The Nzema-East Municipal Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Bernard Azanawane urged parents not to allow their children below 18 to attempt to register and vote.
He said elections were crucial to the development of the country and appealed to prospective voters to cast their ballots in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any intimidation.
Mr Azanawane advised that no one should celebrate electoral victory in the house of others as it had the propensity to arouse anger and could degenerate into tension.
The NCCE Director appealed to the government to post more staff to the Nzema-East Municipality as he was the only staff member left at the office making the workload cumbersome for him.
The Nzema-East Divisional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Joseph Quainoo, stressed the need for peace as the nation went to the polls.
He said the police would take control of the polling stations to avoid incidences which could mar the elections.
GNA
