Stay away from violence on voting day - NCCE Director

Mr Alhassan Yakubu, Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called on the youth to stay away from acts of lawlessness and violence on voting day.

They should refuse to allow themselves to be manipulated by any politician to undermine the polls.

He was addressing a forum held at the Kumasi Central Mosque to educate the people about the need to keep the nation’s peace.

Mr Yakubu said it was important to draw lessons from the devastation caused by political conflicts in countries like Cote d’ Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia and avoid anything likely to snowball into nasty clashes.

He said they should recognize that all would be put in harm’s way in the event of civil strife.

He appealed to them to respect the rules and regulations governing the elections to prevent trouble.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Francis Xavier Mambisi, Asawase District Crime Officer, urged all qualified voters to go out to vote without fear saying the security agencies had put in place adequate measures to protect lives and property.

He cautioned motorbike riders to stay off the polling centres and urged parents to impress on their under-aged children from taking part in the voting.

Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, the Regional Chief Imam, asked the people to live in total peace and harmony adding that they should not be divided by politics.