Regional News of Tuesday, 4 May 2004

Source: GNA

Police determined to make democracy develop

Begoro (E/R), May 4, GNA - The public has again been assured that the security agencies would be resolute in the discharge of their duties to prevent saboteurs who would try to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.

As a result, politicians who want to capitalise on ethnic and religious disputes to advance their cause have been cautioned to stop. The Eastern Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Richmond Boi-Bi-Boi, gave the assurance at a Constitution Week celebration at Begoro in the Fanteakwa District on Monday.

The function was organised by the National Commission on Civic Education(NCCE)to educate chiefs, opinion leaders, political and religious leaders, Assembly members, heads of department and identifiable groups on the 1992 Constitution to enable them perform their civic rights and responsibilities towards national development. Superintendent Boi-Bi-Boi asked political parties to eschew the use of abusive language on political platforms and asked party activists to resort to dialogue rather than violence in resolving any political misunderstandings.

He urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage in the election year and cross-check information before publication. Superintendent Boi-Bi-Boi cautioned contributors to phone-in programme to avoid breeding tension and violence with their utterances. He asked the public to see themselves as partners in crime prevention and help to maintain law and order by forming community watch groups.

The Fanteakwa District Chief Executive, Mr Ebenezer Ofoe Caesar said there was the need for all to guard against intolerance, violence and instability from escalating to retard national progress. Mr Caesar said the government carried out the new voters registration exercise as its preparedness to create a congenial atmosphere for democracy to thrive.

He urged registered voters to take the passport photograph exercise seriously since mere registration without photographs would disenfranchise them in the December and subsequent elections. The District Director of the NCCE, Mr Augustine Bosrotsi, explained that the Constitution Week celebration was to educate the public on their civil rights and responsibilities but not to marginalise any political party.

Attention recipients: Item 16 eds our third transmission