Kenyasi No. 2(B/A), Aug. 7, GNA - Mr. Kofi Adomah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Friday urged political party leaders to organise educative programmes for their supporters on the code of conduct and electoral laws in the run-up for the December elections.
He said this would encourage the supporters to become tolerant and avoid antagonism through the use of intimidation, "machomen", indecent language and unnecessary provocation before, during and after the elections.
Mr. Adomah was addressing a congress of the Brong-Ahafo Students Union (BASU) at Kenyasi Number Two in the Asutifi District of Brong-Ahafo.
He spoke on "Ensuring Violence-Free Elections: the Role of BASU". The NCCE Regional Director stressed the need for members of political parties to recognise that the country was in the era of political pluralism, which gave existence to other political parties to help nurture the country's infant democracy.
Mr. Adomah advised the students not to allow politicians to use their campuses for their campaigns and to be bold to say "no" to anybody who would want to influence them with drinks or gifts to create confusion.
He urged the electorate to desist from hooting or jeering at supporters of losing political parties as such attitudes goaded parties "to move heaven and earth" in order to win elections, culminating in an unhealthy situation.
Mr. Paul Okoh, MP for Asutifi North emphasized the need for peace for development and called for civility, a high sense of maturity and responsibility during the December polls.
He noted that phone-in segments of radio programmes continued to pose a threat to peace and asked the media to ensure that their reportage did not inflame passions.
The MP asked the students to lead decent and morally upright lives since "moral ethics and appearance are essential for success and development in life".
Mr. Emmanuel Sarfo, National President of BASU said the Union aimed at fostering unity among students and promoting and enhancing their cultural heritage.
He appealed to traditional councils to set up endowment funds in their areas to assist brilliant and needy students to promote education in the region.
