The Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Justina Owusu-Banahene, has admonished candidates contesting the upcoming district level elections to be decorous in their campaigns to build and strengthen a vibrant democratic and good governing society.
She entreated them to make tolerance their trademark and watchword, and avoid inflammatory remarks that could potentially trigger violence to disturb national peace, stability, unity, cohesion and security with the consequence of political and economic instability.
Madam Owusu-Banahene made the admonition when she addressed a town hall meeting organised by the assembly in Sunyani in the Bono Region to educate, sensitise and create awareness for the electorate on the district level elections and referendum to be held on Tuesday, December 17 this year.
“The district level elections played integral role in deepening the decentralisation concept, campaigns of insults, threats, intimidation and infuriated statements will stir up hatred among candidates and their followers to undermine peace, unity, security, social cohesion and huge task and responsibility has been placed on each of the candidates to ensure violent free elections to facilitate democratic stability in the country,” she cautioned.
Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, the Bono Regional Minister, advised the electorate to vote “yes” in the referendum since the government would work hard to strengthen and consolidate the gains of the nation’s fledgling democratic dispensation, good governance and rule of law but the citizenry also had the corresponding role to play to enhance freedom of expression.
“Voting “yes” will pave the way for the amendment of Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution to introduce multi-partisan system into local level elections,” she noted.
Alhaji Suallah Quandah, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, appealed to all eligible voters to participate in the referendum and the district level elections. -GNA
