By Dennis
Peprah/Fawzia Seidu/ Fredrick Asenso Boateng, GNA
Sunyani,
Nov. 13, GNA – Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Sunyani Municipal Chief
Executive (MCE) has called on candidates contesting the upcoming District Level
Elections (DLEs) to be decorous in their campaigns to build and strengthen a
vibrant democratic society.
She
advised them to make tolerance their trademark and watchword, and avoid
inflammatory remarks that could potentially trigger violence to disturb
national peace and security with the consequence political and economic
instability.
Mad.
Owusu-Banahene made the call when she addressed a town hall meeting organised
by the Assembly on Tuesday in Sunyani to sensitise the electorate on the DLEs
and the Referendum to be held on Tuesday, December 17 this year.
It
was attended by traditional rulers, religious organisations, artisanal workers,
Heads of Departments, civil society actors, activists of non-governmental
organisations, Person with Disabilities, youth associations, political party
representatives, assembly members and students.
Mad.
Owusu-Banahene said the DLEs played integral role in deepening the
decentralisation concept, saying that campaigns of insults and infuriated
statements would stir up hatred among candidates and their followers to
undermine peaceful social cohesion and national unity.
She
said huge task and responsibility had been placed on each of the candidates to
ensure peaceful elections to facilitate democratic stability in the country.
Mrs.
Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, the Bono Regional Minister, advised the electorate
to vote “yes” in the referendum.
She
said the government would work hard to strengthen and consolidate the gains of
the nation’s fledgling democracy but the populace also had the corresponding
role to play to enhance freedom of expression.
Mrs.
Kumi-Richardson explained voting “yes” would pave the way for the amendment of
Article 55(3) of the 1992 constitution to introduce multi-partisan system into
local level elections.
Alhaji
Suallah Abdallah Quandah, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Executive
Secretary of the National Peace Council advised all eligible voters to
participate in the referendum and DLEs.
GNA
