Traditional Authorities Asked To Stay Away From Partisan Politics

The Deputy Chairman Operations, of the National Commission for Civic Education, Mr Samuel Akuamoah, has cautioned traditional authorities to stay away from partisan politics.

Rather, he said, they should remain neutral and receive all political parties with equal support whenever they paid courtesy calls on them during their campaigns ahead of the 2016 polls.

He indicated that traditional rulers were custodians of the land and that any move by the chiefs to disclose their political identity may lead the country into a potential civil strife.

Addressing the NCCE’s  public forum sponsored by the European Union at Fotobi in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, Mr  Akuamoah said the Constitution of Ghana did not permit chiefs to take part in active politics and that the traditional authorities must endeavour to uphold this directive.

Durbar

The purpose of the durbar was to strengthen the capacity of unit committee members and assembly members, as well as engage the electorate to understand the responsibilities of the various assembly committees to enhance development at the local governance level.

While cautioning chiefs to stay away from active politics, Mr Akuamoah also advised assembly members and the unit committees to work in unity with a common goal of development without any conflict of interest.

“As assembly members and unit committee members, you must not affiliate yourselves with political parties because your election was non-partisanship,” he said.

He said issues with regard to development must not be politicised despite political differences.

He also advised the public, as well as party serial callers, to avoid the use of indecent language and speak to issues instead of raining insults on people.

“Let us prove to Africa and the rest of the world that we Ghanaians understand democracy by protecting and maintaining the peace and unity among ourselves during and after this year’s general election,” he advised.

Parliamentary debates

The Project Manager of the European Union (EU), Mr Patrick Asare-Nelson, hinted that a parliamentary debate would soon be organised by the EU in collaboration with the NCCE for all parliamentary aspirants across the 275 constituencies in the country before the general election.

The debate, he said, would provide the electorate with the greatest opportunity to select aspirants who “had the vision to bring development to their constituencies.

He said the aim of the European Union was to help enhance good governance in the country and promised to continually contribute the EU’s  resources towards achieving its motive.