‘Participation in district level election is shared civic responsibility’

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has stated that a successful conduct of the impending Referendum and the District Level Election (DLE) is a shared civic responsibility which the citizenry must actively participate.

It noted that it was imperative that the citizenry played key roles in every activity of the Electoral Commission to enable it to discharge its constitutional mandate effectively and efficiently.

The Commission explained that the government had activated processes seeking to amend Articles 243(1) and 55(3) for election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives and introduction of political party participation in the local election were presented to Parliament to be passed.

Nicholas Ofori Boateng, Central Regional Director of the Commission, who made the call said the Electoral Commission had set December 17, this year for the referendum on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and December 10, 2019, for the referendum.

Explaining the requirements of the election, he said “forty per cent turnout of the total registered voters is required for the referendum and 70 per cent “Yes votes” are constitutionally required to pave way for their election, rally the support of the media to whip up the interest of the citizenry to turn up for the elections, while encouraging competent and qualified persons to contest various positions”.

Mr Boateng appealed to managers of radio stations in the districts to offer free airtime for the commission to sensitise, educate and create awareness of listeners on the referendum and the district level elections and regretted over the highest turnout for the previous district level elections was 35 per cent.

“The attendance was far low and I urge Ghanaians to participate in the processes to ensure successful and peaceful election because our active participation in the exercise will ensure the election of competent leaders who will be accountable, transparent and drive sustainable growth and development,” he stressed. -GNA