By Lawrencia Akoto Frempong
Afienya, Nov. 20, GNA – The Ningo-Prampram Municipal Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has organised a parliamentary dialogue for the candidates in the constituency to interact with voters.
Mr. Evans Tetteh Nii Nartey and Mr. Fredrick Forzie, two independent candidates of the Ningo Prampram Constituency in next December general elections, were present at the dialogue
The dialogue, aimed at introducing the candidates to the constituency, was themed “Together We Can Build Ghana, So Let’s Get Involved.”
Mr. Sam Nartey George, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and Mr. Michael Tetteh Eku, candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), were unable to participate.
Mr. Oppong Mensah, the Municipal Director of the NCCE, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the dialogue was to introduce the parliamentary candidates to the constituents, give the candidates the opportunity to share their policies, and for the voters to ask questions.
Mr. Mensah noted that the motive of the dialogue was also to make the people of Ningo-Prampram remember that they have the power to make a candidate their leader or not based on their policies and vision for the constituency.
He advised the constituents, party supporters, and candidates not to misinform and disinform people, as that could cause fear and panic in the various communities.
He said: “Do not spread false information about people or paint people negative because they have spent years to build their reputations and so destroying it with false information mostly brings violence and conflicts.”
Speaking on the political posting of campaign posters on people’s properties, he cautioned that destroying political party posters was illegal.
He stated that if a person does not like the idea of a political party poster on their property, he or she must visit the political party office involved and lodge a complaint or report the issue to either the assembly members of the electoral area, the chief, or even the police to take action.
He therefore urged the voters and candidates to remember they were once family before politics; therefore, they must not allow politics to divide them.
Nene Afutu III, Chief of the Afienya, pleaded with the constituents to exercise their civic rights in peace and harmony.
He added that when casting their votes, they should consider the policies that would help in the developmental process of the constituency and not their personal gains and money.
He again called on religious leaders to be tolerant of all religions and not be ethnocentric in their speeches.
Mr. Forzie stated that it is time for the constituency to look for better leadership and not a politician who would make promises.
He said that for the past 32 years, the constituency has not seen any improvement; therefore, it was time for a change and development.
He urged the constituents not to sell their votes to any politician because of money but to look for the right candidate that would lead the constituency to better development.
Mr. Nartey, for his part, noted that the constituency had retarded in terms of development, and it was time for a change.
He added that his vision for the constituency was to build a leadership and entrepreneurial academy that would help improve youth employment and vocational education in the communities.
He advised the youth not to allow themselves to be influenced by politicians to cause violence and conflicts at the polling centres during the elections, while urging them to vote for someone that could develop their communities and create more jobs.
GNA