General News of Tuesday, 12 September 2000

Source: null

Party supporters cautioned against destruction of posters

Mim (Brong Ahafo) - Mr. Kofi Adu-Gyamfi Kumaning, Asunafo District Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) at the weekend cautioned supporters of the various political parties against the destruction of posters of their opponents.

He noted that such practices could spark off violence and mar the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general election.

Mr. Kumaning said this at a meeting with pastors and leaders of the various churches at Mim in the Asunafo District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

He urged the pastors to use the pulpit to educate their congregations not to regard their opponents as enemies "but as colleagues fighting for the same goals but from different directions."

Mr. Kumaning said that defacing posters and destruction of billboards of political parties are electoral offences and those caught in the act would be made to face the full rigours of the law.

It is the responsibility of political leaders to instruct their members to educate the electorate about the policies and programmes of their parties rather than attacking personalities, he added.

In another development, Mr. P. Y. Omane, Asunafo District Superintendent of Police, has advised political parties to abide by the Public Order Act to avoid confusion during campaigns for the December elections.

He was speaking at a meeting with political leaders organised by the NCCE for various political parties in the district at Goaso.

Mr. Omane said that in order not to cause confusion, parties should notify the police about their rallies in advance to enable them to prepare to offer them protection.