General News of Saturday, 25 May 2002

Source: gna

Contestants file nominations

One hundred and fifty-six candidates have filed their nominations to contest for the 48 electoral seats in the forthcoming district level elections in the Asunafo District of the Brong Ahafo Region. Out of the number, 141 are males whilst the remaining 15 are female contestants.

Mr Manu Sakyi, Asunafo District Electoral Officer told the Ghana News Agency that by the end of the nomination period, only the Asarekrom seat was declared unopposed since only one candidate is contesting the seat. He stated that as many as eight candidates are vying for the Asafo electoral seat at Akrodie, near Goaso.Mr Sakyi said that the oldest candidate in the district is 66 years old whilst the youngest is 24.

The electoral officer said most of the candidates are farmers, followed by teachers and the rest with other professional backgrounds. Mr. Sakyi reminded the candidates of the non-partisan nature of the district level elections and thus their electioneering campaigns should be devoid of partisan approach. He warned political parties to distant themselves from the candidates since those who would be caught doing so would face the full rigours of the law.

Mr. Sakyi expressed dissatisfaction with few female contestants in the district and wondered whether the numerous campaigns to sensitise women to be politically active had not achieved the required results. He advised the candidates not to consider their opponents as enemies since they were all fighting towards the goal of developing their respective electoral areas.