Accra, Oct. 27, GNA - Mr. Samuel Bannerman-Mensah, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), has issued directive to all Regional and District Directors of Education to ensure that Heads of schools (private and public) and Training Colleges to educate and advice their pupils/students below 18 years of age to desist from attempting to vote even if they may have been enticed by political parties to do so.

A statement signed by Mr. Charles Parker-Allotey, Head, Public Relations of GES said this was contained in a circular dated October 20, 2008 in which the Director-General further reminded Heads of Basic and Second Cycle schools that, they "cannot, under the 1992 Constitution and the Electoral Laws of Ghana, prevent pupils and students of legal voting age who are registered to vote, from exercising their right to vote." It said the Heads were therefore directed to put in place arrangements to afford such students the opportunity to exercise their franchise.