General News of Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Source: GNA

NCCE urges EC to introduce electronic voting

Mampong (Ash), June 17, GNA - Mr. Omane Agyekum, Mampong Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic education (NCCE) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to introduce biometric voting in the 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections to ensure clean and credible elections.

Mr Agyekum made this suggestion when he presented a paper on, "Beyond Elections" last Saturday during the 5th Annual Sekyere Presbytery Men's Fellowship Delegates Conference at Asante Mampong. He said the Church is situated in the state and without peace and stability, citizens cannot go about their normal duties and enjoy life as they expected.

He explained that during the 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections campaigns, there was tension and friction in the country because of ethnocentric politics, suspicion, intimidation and fear, but the good results is that all political parties were able to conduct their campaigns throughout the nation resulting in peaceful elections and a change of government.

He said now that the elections are over and a new government put in place, Ghanaians must unite, show sense of patriotism, pay their taxes, work hard and be interested in what is going on in their towns, districts and in the country to ensure good governance, social auditing and rule of law.

He said governance is a social contract between the people and those entrusted to rule the country and urged the government to formulate policies that would bring economic independence, provide social services and create jobs for the army of unemployed youth in the country. Mr Agyekum stressed that Ghanaians can be assured of good governance and the rule of law if the legislature, the judiciary and the mass media play their roles well, keep the government on its toes and ensure transparency, probity and accountability.