Abolish cultures inimical to good governance

Dunkwa-On-Offin, Nov 11, GNA - The Deputy Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyi on Wednesday appealed to traditional rulers do away with cultures that were inimical to good governance.

The Deputy Chairman was speaking on the topic: "The Role of Traditional Rulers in Maintaining Political Tolerance During and After the Election", at a forum on political tolerance for peaceful elections organised by the NCCE at Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Upper Denkyira District.

Mrs Akumanyi urged the chiefs in the area to eliminate the custom that forbid women from crossing rivers or water bodies on Tuesdays since it prevented them from voting at polling stations that were sited across rivers.

She also appealed to traditional rulers to be non-partisan to command the respect of their people and promote good relationship between the rulers and political parties.

Mr Richard Anane Adabor, the Upper Denkyira District Chief Executive, asked political parties to carry out decent electioneering campaigns and to observe the Public Order Act to avoid violence. He said: "We should use polite language that will unite us as one people who belong to different political parties ".

Mr Adabor urged individuals, religious bodies, pressure groups, political parties and other stakeholders in the democratic dispensation to collaborate efforts to ensure peaceful elections.

The District Electoral Officer, Mr John Appiah Baffoe, said a successful election was significant to the development of democracy and appealed to the electorate to exercise their franchise fairly and peacefully.

Mr George Nkrumah, the District Director of the NCCE, commended the DCE and the Assembly for supporting the Commission.