Don't allow politicians to misuse you - Youth urged

Osiem (E/R), Aug. 26, GNA - The Eastern Regional Deputy Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Lord Larbi, has cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to create tension in the electioneering campaign period.

He said that, ~any person who breach the Public Order law to disturb the public peace, whether you acted in favour of a particular party or not, you would face the law".

Mr Larbi was addressing a public forum for the chiefs and people of Osiem in the East Akim District on Tuesday, organized by the NCCE on the responsibilities of the citizens in the coming elections.

He noted that the removal or defacing of party posters by opponents were among the common basis for creating tensions in communities during campaigning periods and told the people to report any party bill that was posted on their walls, which were not their choice to the police. The removal or tearing of any party poster under any circumstances without the authority of the security agencies constituted a breach of the public order law, which he said, was a punishable offence.

The East Akim District Director of the NCCE, Mr Franklin Boafo, who spoke on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), explained that it was a scheme to improve the healthcare delivery in the system and not a political programme.

He asked the people not to refuse participation in any government programme that was intended to improve the lot of Ghanaians, because of political differences, saying, "government is formed from a party, so if we refuse to embrace policies because we do not support that party, we are only harming ourselves," he noted.

He also reminded the people of the mopping up of the voter's photo-taking exercise and the display of the voters' register and urged the people to avail themselves of the opportunity.