Landlords cautioned against removal of political party posters

New Bomfa, (Ash), August 15, GNA- Landlords have been advised not to use their discretion to remove political party posters pasted on their buildings, since that constitutes an electoral offence, punishable by law.

Mr Edmund Adumata, Acting Ejisu-Juabeng District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who gave the advise, said landlords should instead report such matters to either the offices of the Electoral Commission (EC), or any nearby police station to effect the removal of a poster.

Mr Adumata was speaking at separate durbars at Asotwe and New Bomfa at the weekend.

The NCCE organised the functions as part of an intensive education programme to sensitise communities in the district, on the need for violent-free campaign towards the general elections.

Some of the communities covered under the programme included Juabeng, Ofoase, Nkyerepoase, New Koforidua, Achiase, Onwi and Kwaso. Mr Adumata said even though structures might be privately owned, landlords have no mandate to either destroy or remove political party posters on their own accord.

The Acting NCCE District Director made it clear that, party Agents owe it a moral duty to first, seek the consent and permission of landlords of private buildings before pasting any political party poster on structures.

He said even though pasting of political poster without the consent of the landlord might not amount to an electoral offence, it did not augur well for multi-party democracy and should therefore, not be encouraged in any form.

Mr Adumata assured those who registered but failed to have their photos taken that all was not lost, and that a mopping up exercise would soon be mounted by the EC to cater for all such people.