Political parties urged to train polling agents

Central Regional Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Anthony Nyame, has admonished political parties to provide adequate training for persons who would serve as polling agents for the December 7 general election.

He said presenting polling agents who were knowledgeable, vigilant and tolerant, would clear suspicion and doubts of the election results and contribute to the fairness of the polls.

He therefore appealed to them to ensure that their polling agents participated fully in a training workshop to be organised by the EC for polling agents, adding that only those who were trained would be accepted.

Mr. Nyame said this at the inauguration of a 12-member Inter Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) for the Cape Coast North Constituency.

The Committee, comprised stakeholders in the electoral process including representatives of the various political parties, the EC and the Ghana Police Service.

Others are the Ghana National Fire Service, traditional and religious leaders and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE).

Chaired by the Chief of Abura, Nana Kodwo Adae II, the Committee would serve as a unifying body to promote peace and resolve conflicts before, during and after the elections in the constituency.

The EC Director appealed to the public especially party supporters to seek information from EC offices, whenever they did not understand issues to forestall suspicion and electoral conflicts.

He gave the assurance that the EC had made adequate preparations to ensure free and fair elections.

Inaugurating the Committee, Mr John Michael Aggrey, Assistant Regional Director of NCCE tasked them to identify issues that could result in conflicts and put in place measures to prevent them.

He said the formation of the IPDC formed part of the programmes of the Commission to create platforms for stakeholders of the elections to settle misunderstandings through dialogue.

Mrs Florence Sackey, Senior Civic Education Officer of NCCE said the Commission intended to organise focus group discussions and parliamentary debates in the Constituency as part of its flagship programmes.

She appealed to Ghanaians to take keen interest in civil education activities of the NCCE to effectively participate in national affairs to enhance the country’s democracy.

She urged the committee members to work diligently and devoid of any favouritism to the satisfaction of all.