Inter-party youth committee inaugurated

Sunyani, Jan 26, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Regional branch of the inter-party youth committee was at the weekend inaugurated with a call on Ghanaians to trust, believe and cherished the electoral process to help nurture the country's infant democracy.

Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who made the call in Sunyani, gave the assurance that the Commission would ensure free, fair and transparency in the impending general election.

The establishment of the committee, which is made up of the Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC), New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was facilitated by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a German political foundation committed to promoting democracy.

Mrs Akumanyi explained that the commission was not aligned with any political party in the discharge of its duties and assured Ghanaians of a violent free election. "For the past four years that I have being working with the NCCE, no government has come to us in course of our duties," Mrs Akumanyi added.

She said this year's general election was a critical turning point of the country's political dispensation and advised political activists to conduct their electioneering campaign devoid of rancour and provocative language.

Mrs Akumanyi stressed the importance for political parties to go to the people at the grassroots and educate them on the need to register towards the elections.

Mr. Afred Ofori Annye, Brong-Ahafo Regional youth organizer of the NPP, emphasized the need to promote political activities through training and education of activists with a view to raising their political consciousness.

He said the conduct of transparent was critical for Ghana's emerging democracy, adding that free, fair and transparent elections were the hallmark of a functioning democracy. Mr Kofi Adams, Deputy National Youth Organiser of NDC, explained that for the political atmosphere to be free there must be no interference with personal the democratic process. He advised political parties and their members to engage in debates based on issues and that they must respect divergent views. "Ghanaians can only get the change we seek if we come all out as one to demand our rights and wants and abolish what we detest", Mr Adams stressed. Mr Emmanuel Wilson Junior, National Youth Organiser of PNC, noted that western style of democracy and its manifestations were alien to Africa's traditional system of government. He appealed to political party leaders to desist from using inflammatory languages and inciting their ranks and file against their political opponents. 26 Jan. 08