Ghanaians have stake
in ensuring free polls - MP

Page 13, 21/01/12

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Ahafo-Ano North, Mr Richard Akuoko-Adiyia, has reminded Ghanaians that they all have a stake in ensuring that the 2012 general election is transparent, free and fair.
“The government alone cannot be entrusted to ensure that the impending elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent atmosphere”, he said adding that the Atiwa, Akwatia and Chireponi bye-election should be a yardstick for all Ghanaians to judge how the government would handle the elections if the people were not vigilant.
He said since free, fair and transparent election could not be guaranteed only during the day of election, Ghanaians owed it a duty to take part in registration of voters and in addition be vigilant to ensure that the right things were done during such an exercise.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Adiyia noted with concern the practice whereby people were bused from different constituency to register in another constituency in order to give advantage to a particular candidate.
He said until Ghanaians became vigilant to prevent such malpractices, the beauty of the 2012 election would be marred from day one.
Mr Adiyia also asked Ghanaians to put aside political considerations and rather consider the interest of the country since “governments will come and go, political parties will win power and lose power, but Ghana will continue to be our cherished country”.
The MP cautioned Ghanaians from having the notion that what was happening elsewhere as a result of election malpractices could not happen in Ghana.
“Let us not be complacent but work around the clock and make conscious efforts to ensure that all players in the election play their part as expected of them”, he said.
Mr Adiyia also called on politicians to refrain from politics of insults and rather base their electioneering on issues stressing that it was important for both politicians and their supporters to educate their voters about issues at stake rather than tarnish the image of their opponents in the name of politics.