Kumasi, July 10, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has urged Ghanaians to continue to preach political tolerance to ensure peace as the country prepares towards the December 7, 2008 polls.

He noted that "tolerance has been a pre-requisite to peace, respect, harmony, success and national development and that should be sustained at all times." Mr Owusu-Ansah was speaking at a forum organized by the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Kumasi on Wednesday. The forum attended by over 100 participants including Reverend Ministers, Members of Parliament (MP's) and other identifiable groups, was under the theme: "Going onto Maturity towards Political Tolerance in the Election Year".

He lauded government's effort so far in promoting political tolerance which he described as an important ingredient to consolidate the democratic dispensation.

He said since the assumption of office in 2001, the government has adhered to fundamental human rights, the recognition to opposition in governance ensuring political tolerance in the country. Mr Owusu-Ansah, who was speaking on the role of the ruling party towards political tolerance in an election year, observed that Ghana has been the show piece of democracy in Africa. Mr Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, MP for Asawase, said the criticisms of the opposition have helped to keep the government on its toes to ensure good governance.

He said the opposition has been in good partnership with the government and hoped there would be consensus building always to promote development in the country. Mr Isaac Owusu, Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), urged all stakeholders to assist the commission in its efforts to ensure free and fair elections this year. Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Head of Religion Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University (KNUST), said political tolerance is vital for democracy and appealed to the people to continue to express their views on issues of national concerns. During an open forum, the participants blamed the media as being responsible for some of the violence and conflicts on the basis of misinformation and sensationalism and called for accurate and responsible reportage.

They also called on the EC to prepare a credible voters' register for the country to enable many voters exercise their franchise in the December 7 polls.