NCCE calls on electorate to vote for women in the DLEs

By Dennis Peprah, GNA

Odumase (B/R), Nov. 06, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Wednesday called on the electorate to consider and vote for women contesting the upcoming District Level Elections (DLEs) this year.

This, according to Mrs. Margaret Abrafi Appiah, the Sunyani West District Director of the NCCE would motivate more women to be actively involved in local governance.

Speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the Assembly at Odumase, the District capital in the Bono Region, Mrs. Appiah emphasised the DLEs was important and called on voters to turn out in their numbers to participate massively.

The Electoral Commission EC) would be organising the DLEs and Referendum to amend article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution from the 0700 hours to 1700 hours on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

The referendum is in fulfillment of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitutional requirement for the electorate to approve or reject a question, whether Article 55(3) should be amended to introduce multi- partisan system into local level election or not.

Mrs. Appiah explained the DLEs and the Referendum played essential role in consolidating the gains of the local government systems, saying women participation in the decision-making process must be enhanced at the Assembly level.

Mr. Martin Obeng, the Sunyani West District Chief Executive (DCE) emphasised the DLEs and the Referendum would not be an election of MMDCEs.

But the article 55(3), which is an entrenched clause of the Constitution that prohibits partisan participation in Local Level Elections is what the Referendum seeks to amend through Parliament, he explained.

Presently the constitution prohibits political parties from sponsoring a candidate, the use of existing political party symbols, and canvassing for votes on the platform of a political party on DLEs. 

Mr. Obeng said the Assembly had intensified public education in the communities to ensure knowledge of the DLEs and the Referendum processes would be understood by the people to increase voter turnout.

He reminded the electorate on the need for them to vote "yes" in the referendum in the supreme interest of the nation.

Mr. Obeng said he was however, unhappy about the poor participation of the people during town hall meetings of the Assembly, and advised them to develop interest on issues relating to the progress of the District.

GNA

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