AVOID CHAOS DURING POLLS (PAGE 3)

THE Tamale Metropolitan Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has cautioned key players in the country’s electoral process to work harder in order to avoid a “chaotic situation” during or after the 2008 general election.
According to the NCCE, the recent isolated cases of skirmishes recorded at some registration centres in the country were a wake-up call on security agencies, the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, religious bodies, traditional authorities and opinion leaders to intensify their respective roles to ensure successful elections in December.
The Metropolitan Director of the NCCE, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, told the Daily Graphic this in Tamale as a result of the recent disturbances that occurred at a few registration centres in the metropolis.
“These skirmishes, though isolated, are early warning signals to all relevant institutions and peace-loving people that this year’s elections are crucial and we must all join in the campaign to ensure free and fair elections,” he pointed out.
Alhaji Baba expressed disappointment about the way some people resorted to violence as a means of challenging the alleged registration of minors.
The director equally observed that the effects of those skirmishes were not far-fetched because if that trend continued during the elections, it would result in the non-declaration of results at some polling stations and consequently aggrieved parties might resort to violence.
He called on the various radio stations in the metropolis to design special programmes in the run-up to the elections to appeal to the conscience of residents not to allow their emotions to override their reasoning so as to avoid violence.
Alhaji Baba equally stressed the need for media practitioners to avoid reportage that would inflame passions and portray the metropolis as a violent area.
Touching on his outfit’s contribution to ensuring free and fair elections, the director intimated that his office had drawn up some educational programmes targeted at the youth, political parties, parliamentary candidates and women’s groups.
According to him, peace messages featuring chiefs and religious leaders would also be designed and aired on the various FM stations as a way of ensuring peaceful elections.