President Mahama: Leave creation of constituencies to EC, Parliament and Court

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday called for all wrangling over the creation of the new 45 constituencies by the Electoral Commission (EC) to be put to rest, stressing peace, love and unity of the nation towards the December 2012 elections.

He also rendered an apology on behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey and called for a “cease fire” between the church and the party in respect of the exchanges that had characterised the creation of the new constituencies.

President Mahama made the appeal and rendered the apology in an address at a grand durbar to climax this year’s Odwira festival of the chiefs and people of Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

The festival, which attracted sons and daughters from home and abroad, was used to take stock of the activities in the area to invoke divine blessings on the people and to chart a path for development for the new year.

It was observed under the theme: “Peace, Love and Unity in Our Time – The Role of the Youth.”

President Mahama arrived at the grounds to a rousing welcome after which he exchanged greetings with the celebrants among whom were Okuapehene, Oseadeyor Nana Addo Dankwa III and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 Election.

President Mahama said all matters concerning the creation of the constituencies should be left to the EC, parliament and the courts.

He asked Ghanaians to maintain the peace of the nation and explained that the nation had already gone through five successful elections and there was no need for discord for this year’s elections.

President Mahama spoke Twi throughout the address and said, “By God’s grace we went through the five elections peacefully. By God in heaven, I know this sixth election will also be peaceful. We are one people and one nation. We need to unite to cast our votes.”

He continued, “God bless Ghana, God bless Ghana” and assured the people that government would not relent on the provision of development projects which included provision of portable water and other physical infrastructure.

President Mahama on behalf of government presented a carton of schnapps, 10 crates of assorted drinks and GH?5,000 to the chiefs and people towards the celebration.