The Electoral Commission (EC) is doing everything possible and reasonable to ensure that the country holds another successful general election, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, the commission’s deputy chairman, has said.
He said the Commission was convinced that there would be a peaceful process towards a credible and successful election this year.
He said the country had made progress in its democracy, adding that “we believe that the politics is about the contest of ideas”.
“The ultimate objective is that we want to ensure a highly peaceful, a highly inclusive, a highly participatory electoral process that is also embedded in integrity,” he emphasised.
Forum
Dr Asare said this at the opening of the Second Consultative Forum of the AME Zion Church at Winneba in the Central Region last Thursday.
The forum is being attended by about 600 delegates from across the country.
Vote
Dr Asare appealed to the National Commission for Civic Education, churches and everyone to encourage anyone who was a registered voter to take part in the process.
He said when everyone took part in the process, “we may end up getting an outcome which will be a reflection of the will of the people. So we don’t want a situation whereby only 50 per cent of the people will go and choose leaders for us. So we are encouraging each and everyone to ensure that once you are a registered voter, you take part in the process.”
He said the EC had collaborated extensively with the security agencies to ensure calmness and peace at all the polling stations.
Instrumental
The Secretary to the NCCE, Lucille Hewlette Annan, said the church was very instrumental and crucial to maintaining peace before, during and after the elections.
For instance, she said one of the things that the church could do was give the NCCE the opportunity to talk to its members.
She said during the election day, “we are pleading that you make time for us to talk to our people. We have young people who are now coming to vote for the first time”.
The Presiding Prelate of the WWAED of the AME Zion Church, Rt Rev. Dr Hilliard Dogbe, who chaired the event, said because it was an election year, the church decided to use the first day to have a consultation on the national elections.