Friday, October 9, 2009

CO-OPERATE FOR PEACEFUL BY-ELECTION — VEEP (SEPT 28, PAGE 16)

The Vice-President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, has called on supporters of the various candidates and political parties contesting the Chereponi by-election to co-operate with the security agencies and the Electoral Commission (EC) for a peaceful conduct of the election tomorrow.
He cautioned against the use of firearms to foment trouble during the polls and entreated residents of the area to volunteer information to the security agencies to avert any political violence in the area.
Mr Mahama was addressing the chiefs and people of Chereponi as part of his visit to the area to among other things ascertain the preparedness of the area so far towards the polls.
He used the occasion to introduce the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Mr. Samuel Jabanyite to the people.
He urged the people to allow all the candidates and parties involved in the election to campaign in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any intimidation.
“We do not want a situation whereby aggrieved parties or candidates who lose the election will contest the results apparently because they were prevented from campaigning or voting in a peaceful atmosphere,” the Vice President stated.
He announced plans by the government to rehabilitate the Accra-Hohoe-Nkwanta-Damonko-Bimbilla-Bawku road which formed the Eastern corridor road.
According to him, the government would by the end of this year, start a rural electrification project that would connect communities in the district that do not have electricity.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, urged the electorate to vote for the NDC candidate in order for the party to get a stronger representation in Parliament to bring development to the doorstep of the people.
He noted that the government had started rolling out programmes that would make Ghana a better place to live in.
“Professor Mills has given the opportunity to the youth to contribute to nation building and that is why the youth must rally behind the NDC candidate who is youthful,” he pointed out.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Magbengba urged supporters of the NDC not to make a mistake of voting for any other candidate from another party because the government had a lot of good programmes to implement for them.
Present at the function was the Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Kwabena Adjei and other top members of the NDC.
The Vice President and his entourage also visited Wenchiki and other surrounding communities of Chereponi.
Some members of the Anufor Progressive Union (APU) made up mainly of Chekosis in Chereponi intimated that there was peace in the area.
According to them, since the campaigns begun, in the area there had not been any intimidation or violent incidents as it was being speculated by a section of the media.
They indicated that the youth in the area wanted “recognition, rehabilitation of the road network in the area, unity and peace”.
They cautioned the winner of the by-election against “turning his or her back on the youth”.

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