Kumasi, Aug 8, GNA - The Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) and Youth In Action For Development (YAD), two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) based in Kumasi, have launched a programme to create a platform for the youth and electorate in Ashanti to interact with aspiring parliamentary candidates.

Dubbed "Meet Your Aspiring Member of Parliament", the programme will start from August 21 till December will involve open fora in all the 39 constituencies in the region.

The youth would be mobilised to meet their parliamentary candidates of all the political parties including independent candidates and interact with them to know their plans and programmes especially for the youth.

Addressing a press conference in Kumasi on Saturday to launch the programme, Mr Vincent Frimpong-Manu, Executive President of YAD called on media practitioners to refrain from inflaming passions that could trigger off confusion.

He said: "As the fourth estate of the realm, you are expected to play a meaningful role that will deepen the country's infant democracy." Mr Frimpong-Manu asked the media to be circumspect in their reportage so that the country's fragile democracy could be sustained to pave the way for peaceful elections in December.

He noted that from 1992 to 2000, there had been some measure of improvement in elections but said, in spite of this achievement, there were still a few problems associated with the election process, which needed to be addressed to ensure successful elections in December.

"Election 2004 as evidenced by the euphoria, competitiveness and tension presents another opportunity for all civil society organisations to play meaningful and positive roles to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections."

Mr Frimpong-Manu appealed to all supporters and sympathisers of the various political parties to be tolerant and circumspect in their utterances by refraining from using inflammatory and provocative language in their quest to either capture or maintain power.

"The Ghanaian youth of today has a discerning mind and can therefore make informed choices when it comes to election," he added.