Let’s ensure peace in 2016 election - Veep

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has reiterated the need to ensure that this year’s election is conducted in an atmosphere of peace, law and order. He said electioneering is not by force, violence but a competition for the development of the country.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Larteh at a durbar to climax their Odwira, Mr Amissah-Arthur appealed to supporters of political parties to be circumspect in their utterances and behavior in order not to spark any violence. He assured the chiefs and people of Larteh that President Mahama and NDC stand for development so all their remaining infrastructural challenges will be addressed.

The chiefs and people of Larteh defied the continuous rainfall to turn out in their numbers for the durbar. Supporters of the NDCand the NPP also turn out in their numbers and added political colour to the celebration of the Odwira.

While the NDC supporters shouted ‘JM Toaso’, ‘Yee Toaso’, their NPP counterparts countered by saying ‘We Want Change’, ‘We Want Change’ and the vice versa amid waving of placards with different inscriptions. The crescendo intensified on each side of the two political parties when Vice President Amissah-Arthur entered the Larteh town.

He urged Ghanaians to jealously guard the country’s peace so that government can bring the needed development to the people.

Responding to requests by Lartehene, Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio, and Vice President Amissah-Arthur assured him of more projects as all on going ones will be completed.

On her part Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frempong vividly recounted the numerous development government has undertaken in the region including Larteh. She said the NDC government led by President Mahama will never forsake the region and assured them of more projects.

The Omanhene of Larteh, who is also the Benkumhene of Akuapem Traditional area, thanked President Mahama for given Okuapeman its fair share of development though a lot more still needs to be done. He was also grateful to government for helping in successfully dealing with chieftaincy disputes in the area.

Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio said the unity of purpose which galvanized the final funeral rites of the late Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa was a testimony of the success of Akuapem re-unification. He was however not happy that the nomination, selection and installation of a new Okuapehene appears to have stalled. He was hopeful that this will be resolved without muchrancour.

On politics, Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio, kicked against the call on the state to fund political parties. This according to him will lead to the formation of political parties just for the money at the expense of using the money to provide critical infrastructural needs of the people.

The Lartehene called on the Electoral Commission not to reduce the filing fee of 50 thousand cedis for flag bearers and 10 thousand cedis for Parliamentary candidates. This is because the fees constitute a fraction of the money the parties themselves spend on their activities and also give away to supporters. According to him the parties which cannot pay the fees must honorably withdraw from the election in December.