Failing to vote is a disservice to nation - NCCE Official

Kumasi, Nov. 23, GNA - An Official of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has stated that the greatest disservice a registered voter could do to himself and the nation was to deliberately fail to vote on Election Day.

Mr Philip H. Mensah, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the NCCE, said by failing to vote, the electorate denies himself or herself the right to make suitable choice for the leadership of the nation while also robbing himself of his right to be part of the decision-making process of the country.

Mr Mensah made the statement when he spoke on: "The Right of a Citizen to Vote," at a forum organised by the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) for women groups in Kumasi on Tuesday. The forum was aimed at creating a platform to further enlighten women on the value of peace in Election 2004.

Mr Mensah called on all qualified voters to shun all odds and to resolve to turn out on the day of elections to cast their votes. Miss Alice Botchway, Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the NCWD, said women's crave for peace in the system should begin with education of their own family members and close associates about the use of decent language.

She said, this apart, women should also strive to use the various fellowships and church groups as well as social clubs they belonged to, as avenues for preaching and educating people on the significance of tolerance and peace.

Mrs Anna Danso-Dapaah, Coordinator of the Mother and Child Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, entreated Ghanaians, irrespective of their religious, political and social affiliation to devote ample time for prayer sessions for a peaceful election.