Don't vote merely on party lines for parliamentarians

Akwatia (E/R), June 30, GNA- An aspiring independent parliamentarian, Mr Basil Kodjo Ahiable has stressed the need for "a change in the voting behaviour of the electorate", to reflect the level of the political maturity in the country.

Mr Ahiable noted that the present situation where the electorate voted for parliamentary candidates merely on party lines should be discouraged since it did not help in "getting quality materials into Parliament".

"No matter who is presented by the popular parties, he or she will be voted for whether the person has the ability to deliver or not," he noted.

Mr Ahiable said this when he addressed his supporters at Akwatia, in the Eastern region after an inspection tour of some projects he had initiated.

He noted that voting merely on party lines had retarded the development of many communities as their representatives had become mere spectators in Parliament.

"Our democratic dispensation has reached a stage where we must take into account quality when voting," he stated. Mr Ahiable cautioned the youth to avoid fomenting troubles before, during and after the elections.

He advised them to remember that "Ghanaians are one people with a common destiny and that they would continue to live in the same community or constituency after the elections, so their actions and utterances must lead to the sustenance of peace and unity. He called on the youth, who had attained the voting age of 18 years and above but had not registered to do so when the voters register opens, to enable them to exercise their franchise. 30 June 08