"Political parties need to ensure credible elections" -MP

Adidome (V/R), April 15, GNA- The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu in the Volta Region, has called on all political parties to ensure transparent and credible elections as the country approached the 2004 general elections.

Mr. Joe Gidisu noted that free, fair and peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections were not only aimed at avoiding violence and disputes, but as a way of preserving democratic values.

The MP was of the view that the Electoral Commission (EC) would work assiduously, to guarantee free and fair elections, in order to win the confidence of the people and the political parties.

He made the call at a mini-durbar at the Adidome Hospital in the Volta Region, when two separate Unions donated items to the hospital. The Adidome Women Co-operative Credit Union's president, Nana Mewornu Atto II, presented two cartons of key soap and 30 cot sheets estimated at over 800,000 cedis to the Children's Ward, on behalf of her Union.

The items were received by Ms. Charity Kuwornu, Matron of the hospital.

Mr. Nicholas Atsu Amaglo, Chairman of Agbeyeye Welfare Union in Accra, also presented a mower and its accessories including wire gauge estimated at 5 million cedis to the hospital on behalf of the Union. They were received by Mr. Ben Afertorgbe of the Hospital.

The MP thanked the two Unions for the gesture, and said since the gifts were donated at a time that the hospital needed them, he was of the view that the authorities would make good use of them.

A retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Christian Atsen who chaired the function stated that since the hospital was weedy, the donation of the mower was timely to help get rid of reptiles.

Mr Atsem appealed to other benevolent organisations and non-resident citizens to assist the hospital in its quest for improved facilities, since the government alone could not provide all the facilities.