GHANAIANS CAN'T VOTE IN CHAOS — NCCE (PAGE 17)

Story: George Folley Quaye, Wa

GHANAIANS cannot exercise their sovereign will or their franchise in an atmosphere of chaos, Mr Kofi Adomah, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has stated.
He has, therefore, appealed to the leaders of the various political parties in the constituencies to resolve all disputes, possibly before the elections.
“In addition to that, as registered voters, we need to observe simple electoral regulations in the interest of peace”, he added.
Mr Adomah was addressing students of the Jahan Training College as part of activities marking this year’s constitution week in Wa.
His topic was “The sovereign will of the people and election 2008”.
According to Mr Adomah, to make the concept of sovereignty as enshrined in the constitution a reality, contesting parties and individuals vying for positions in the 2008 elections should be magnanimous enough to accept the verdict of Ghanaians.
By this, he said, the parties would be contributing their quota to the development of the country instead of dwelling on frivolous issues to reject the results of the elections, if things showed that the elections had indeed been fairly conducted.
“Our sovereign will does not end with elections, I therefore do not expect Ghanaians to wash their hands off national issues after casting their votes in the 2008 elections” he pointed.
He said it was the people who through their sovereign power, were going to put in place a government in the presidential elections, and stressed the need to ensure that they used the power given them for their welfare.
The NCCE regional director called on Ghanaians to attach great importance to this year’s elections by turning out massively to exercise their sovereign will and ensure that there was peace before, during and after the elections” bearing in mind that Ghana belongs to all of us and that we sink or float together.”
Mr Adomah urged the students of the college to educate people who threatened not to vote because they did not benefit materially, and that voting was not a job that brought instant payment.