A Senior Lecturer at School of Medical Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Dr. Okyere Addai Mensah has entreated the various political parties to desist from spurring out venom statements ahead of the 2016 elections.

He believes stakes are high and spurring out venomous comments will not augur well for the country.

Touching on manifesto rant, the Lecturer lashed out at the Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho for describing the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Sunday manifesto launch devilish.

Mr. Ayidoho is quoted to have stated that the NPP’s manifesto launch is the devil’s manifesto.

Dr. Addai wondered why such a political figure would brand a policy document by its opponent as ‘devil’.

He further expressed satisfaction that a section of politicians are engaging in issue-based public discourse.

‘One of the things I am very happy about for us as a country is the fact that the 2016 election as in comparison to 2012 and earlier elections is gravitating towards an issue-based election. Sometimes when you have people come out and spur out venom, sometimes garbage, you imagine that the NPP holds its campaign launch on a Sunday, and you have the Deputy General Secretary of a big political party like the NDC to say its devilish that is why it was held on a Sunday.

It does not make sense, and sometimes I wish that such people will rise above a certain standard, and leave these for excuse me to say ‘street’ boys who are aimless. But when you have well meaning people like that making those kind of statements it hurts,’ he bemoaned.

Dr. Addai observed that Ghanaians are discerning enough not to vote on personality looks, tribal lines but will vote based on competence, fairness among others.

‘Integrity, competence is very crucial in going into the election, the election is not about age, ideology, gimmickry, how handsome an individual is, it’s not a beauty pageant, it’s about competence, improvement in the lives of people, fairness, is about how food will be put on the tables of Ghanaians,’ he said.