Boycotting elections over infrastructure is wrong- NCCE

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Thursday advised the constituents not to use government’s inability to provide infrastructure in their areas to boycott elections.

Mr Kusi Aburrah, Western Regional Director of the NCCE offered the advice and described such threats by some constituents as unconstitutional saying “Eye Musuo” meaning it is a taboo to boycott elections.

“The fact that you want something from the government and have not received it does not compel you to boycott election, when I hear this, as an NCCE man i laugh over the ignorance”.

Mr Aburrah was speaking on the topic “Citizen’s right to vote”, at a day’s seminar on the biometric registration exercise.

The Leadership of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council organized the seminar for its elders and the Muslim Community in Takoradi.

He said as constituents they were bonded by the constitution and civic responsibility to continue exercising their franchise, which in a way, would express their concerns rather than boycott.

Mr Aburrah noted that voting amounts to the participation in governance and therefore advised the populace to carry their sick people to the voting centers for them to express their civic rights.

He noted that since Rome was not built in a day” they should continue voting because one day their request would be met.

The NCCE Director called for tolerance and vigilance on the Election Day, saying that, every eligible voter was duty bound to join the queue to ensure orderliness unless permitted by the people around.

To ensure peace in the system, he advised against defaming posters of political opponents because it was an offence and attracts prosecution.

Mr Steve Opoku-Mensah, the Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) described as shameful the encouraging of foreigners to register and vote in the country as this never happens in other countries.

He warned those behind this unpatriotic practice “to bow their heads in shame and cease forthwith.

The EC however assured that the biometric exercise would eliminate multiple registrations and expose the perpetrators.

Mr Opoku-Mensah said in their own interest, constituents must provide accurate and detailed information when requested, assuring that arrangement have been put in place to prevent inconveniences at the polling centers.

He encouraged everyone to register and vote, because “the mere possessing of a card does not make you a voter”.

They entreated the leaders of the Council and the Muslim Community to impart the knowledge acquired at the seminar to their members and ensure they comply accordingly.