General News of Monday, 3 July 2000

Source: GhanaClassified

Elections must be free and fair

The National Association of Charismatic Christian Churches (NACCC) reiterated the need for political parties to ensure that the December elections are peaceful, free and fair.

"As a church we have a duty to cause stability in the country and its is our fervent Prayer that the period before, during and after elections, are peaceful".

The chairman of the association, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills said this at a day's prayer session for political parties, religious groups and stake and stakeholders in Accra on Friday.

He called on the leadership of political parties to accommodate one another's view and to be circumspect in their utterances.

He said the utterances could either mar or strengthen the stability of the country, and called on them to make the country's consideration a superiority over other considerations.

In an address, the chairman of the National Commission on Culture, (NCC) Mr. Larry Bimi, said Ghanaians owe it for owe it for God and themselves to seek and strive diligently for peace and unity.

He said the cause of peace is not the responsibility of only government but all people, churches, stakeholders as well as political parties.

"Today as we move steadily to the December 2000 Elections, the circumstances are not too different.

The NCC in this regard, has been on a sustainable basis, been calling on all Ghanaians to create a healthy climate for dialogue and debate on all political issues at all level of social life".

He said the NCCE in ensuring peace has been reiterating the need for law and order at all level of the society by all persons.

Mr. Bini called for the divergence of opinion as an essential part of human relations but expressed indignation about relief inflame passion or attack the sensitivities of citizens.

He urged all Ghanaians as well as the media to continue to work and pray for unity, brotherliness, tolerance and peace as a prerequisite for the sustenance of the young democracy of the country.