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THE VOLTA Regional House of Chiefs (VRHC) has urged citizens of the area to change their one-sided voting pattern by being more open-minded. The VRHC believes the region has lagged behind in terms of development due to poor electoral choices adding that over the years, most Voltarians have voted for party flags and not the personality wielding the flag Chiefs from the Volta region took turns to express these sentiments at their annual general meeting held recently. The AGM was to urge political parties to be more committed to the region than themselves and their parties and also generate support from political parties for the Volta Region, Ningxia-China development agreement. Out of all the political parties invited, only the New Patriotic Party (NPP) honoured the invitation. In his address, President of the VRHC, Togbe Afede XIV explained that the meeting was intended to afford the political parties and chiefs a platform to deliberate on the 2012 general elections and the quality of candidates presented by the various parties in the region. Additionally, it was to demystify the notion that chiefs from the region are biased toward certain political parties. He said the accusation that some of them have been taking sides in previous general elections and in some cases aiding electoral malpractices was untrue. The meeting he noted was to assure the various political parties in the region of a level playing field in next year�s polls. �Peace is the desire of our people and we as chiefs will play neutral roles to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections,� he added. Osie Adzatekpor of the Avatime Traditional Area recounted that he once saw a banner at Juapong which read that the Volta region which is the �World Bank� of the NDC will be turned into a �Rural Bank.� This accolade he claimed was derogatory and could ignite tension among the people. He urged citizens of the region to reject the �World Bank� title by demonstrating to the rest of the country that they do not belong to any particular political party. Nana Soglo Allo of the Soglo Alloh of Likpe Traditional Area and Vice President of the VRHC expressed worry about the recent brouhaha in the North Tongu district and appealed to chiefs and youth leaders there to resort to diplomatic options instead of violence and media warfare to settle their differences. He consequently urged all parties to present their policies and programs for thorough examined by the people in order for them to make informed choices during the election and not �World Bank� choices. The Paramount Chief of Ziavi Traditional Area, Togbe Korku Ayim IV stressed that it is high time citizens in the region changed their voting patterns and choices by being more open-minded. He also admonished political parties against disrespecting traditional leaders and chiefs apparently in reference to the political parties that dishonoured their invitation. NPP Regional Secretary, Kofi Boateng, commended the chiefs for their initiative and development exploits with China adding �this is what the people need from us as leaders�this is also what the NPP stand for, to ensure that all Ghanaians get equal and adequate opportunities to succeed.� He stressed that the NPP�s position is very clear: to fight and struggle for a peaceful, free and fair election with due recognition to the sovereignty and reverence of chiefs and other traditional rulers. Things will not be pleasant for any chief caught aiding and abetting election malpractices as alleged at some locations during the last general election, Boateng said. He therefore appealed to the chiefs to support the NPP by insisting on the biometric registration with verification in the 2012 polls. �The NPP will ensure a clean, issues-based campaign and not personality attacks. We will scrutinise the fulfilled and unfulfilled promises of the NDC and the development-driven agenda of the NPP,� he added. He remarked that the NPP has always selected competent candidates across the region over the years including this year, but people in the region often rejected them in many cases due to their one-sided stance. �I hope that during next year�s election, most of these competent candidates will be given the mandate to prove themselves worthy of the honour to build upon the remarkable initiatives of the chiefs and positive initiatives of the NDC.� Mr. Boateng noted that under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP will prove that with the right calibre of personnel, government can create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and boost employment, the economy and education of Ghana�s future leaders.