Don't turn polling agents into party pugilists - EC

Wa, (U/W) Dec 6, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Aggrey-Fynn, Director of Public Affairs, at the Electoral Commission on Saturday called on polling agents not to turn themselves into political or polling pugilists on December 7 at various polling stations.

Instead, he urged them to be critical and vigilant to stem skirmishes that undermined democracy and brought misunderstanding and violence.

Mr Aggrey-Fynn said this when he addressed two separate training programmes for polling agents at the Wa School for the Blind and the Wa School for the Deaf at Wa.

He advised them to place Ghana first in their roles and responsibilities before any political or partisan consideration. "Any small problem that you cause in your area of operation could be replicated in other areas to create general instability." Mr Aggrey-Fynn urged them not to engage in physical assaults but report any misunderstanding to electoral officers for redress to give credence to transparency in the elections.

"Ghana is now seen as one of the safest countries to do business in Africa and I do not want your activities to mar that reputation." Mr Aggrey-Fynn advised against alcoholism on the voting day as that could help derail the progressive agenda of the polling agents. "Whoever violates the electoral rules on December 7, will be made to face the full rigours of the law", he warned.

He urged them to stand firm and ensure that nobody took the law into his or her own hands to do things that would go against democracy and the electoral laws.