The Reverend Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, Chairperson of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has entreated religious leaders to make conscious efforts at educating their followers on national issues.

He said leaders were obliged to keep their members well-informed on development policies and programmes, as well as the state of the nation.

This was the only way they could be discerning enough to make informed decisions as they choose candidates to represent them in this year’s General Election.

Rev, Opuni-Frimpong who was addressing a political stakeholders’ forum organised by the PCG in Kumasi, said Ghana needs discerning voters so as to change the status quo as per the considerations and patterns in electing leaders.

“It is unfortunate that in many cases we have some candidates being un-deservingly voted for due to appearance, (ethnicity) or religious inclinations or monetary influence to the detriment of the nation’s progress,” he noted.

Such recurrent scenarios, he said, was responsible for the low-level of development in general terms as many unqualified persons continue to be elected into responsible positions.

The Chairperson said it was important that the nation’s leaders became problem-solving.

He stressed that those given the mandate should be competent enough to address the challenges facing the country such as job creation, alleviating of poverty and hunger, provision of good drinking water and other infrastructure and also ensuring good governance.

Rev. Opuni-Frimpong urged religious leaders to strive to insulate themselves from active politics to help engender their neutrality and integrity in the nation’s development process.

He called on stakeholders to play more responsible roles to avoid political and electoral violence for the sustenance of peace and unity.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Augustine Gyening, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, gave the assurance that the police would work around the clock to foster law and order, as well as an incident-free election.

Mr. Isaac Owusu, Regional Deputy Director of the Electoral Commission, said his outfit was committed to organise free and fair elections.**