"Do not foment trouble during the December elections"-Gyambiby

Koforidua, April. 29, GNA- Mr Anthony Gyambiby, a Chief State Attorney, on Tuesday warned those who intend to foment trouble during the forthcoming general elections by creating chaos, to desist from such actions.

"They should note that if their acts are found to have violated any of the electoral laws and indeed any other laws of Ghana, they would be dealt with accordingly" he said.

Mr Gyambiby was speaking at the eight in a series of a public forum to commemorate the National Constitution Week celebrations for major stakeholders in Koforidua.

The forum, which was under the Theme "The Sovereign Will of the People and Election 2008", was organized by the Eastern Regional Secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). Mr Gyambiby said under the Criminal and other Offences Act, 1960 (ACT29), electoral offences such as attempt to prevent, obstruct or disturb any public election by any kind of force, violence or threats, are punishable.

"Additionally, Section 13 of the Electoral Commission (EC) Act, 1993 (Act 451) provides that a person who willfully obstructs the Commission in the performance of its functions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 200 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or both".

He called upon the security services and agencies to sharpen their professional skills to provide the needed protection, supervision and vigilance to avert any problems before, during and after the December elections.

The Chief State Attorney appealed to the government to adequately resource the relevant state agencies and institutions particularly the EC and the NCCE to enable them perform their onerous responsibilities to achieve success in the 2008 elections.