The Bono, Ahafo and Bono East Regional Directorates of the NCCE with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) have launched their Regional Citizens’ Education and Awareness Campaigns on the upcoming District Level Elections (DLEs) and Referendum to whip up public interest in the 2019 DLEs and referendum earmarked to take place on 17th December 2019.
Delivering her welcome address, the NCCE Bono Regional Director, Ms. Doris Gbongbo, entreated community leaders, leaders of the various religious groups, and the media to support the NCCE and ISD to execute this national exercise.
Speaking at the Bono and Ahafo regional launches, the Chairman of the NCCE, Ms. Josephine Nkrumah, explained that the upcoming Referendum seeks to the amendment of Article 55(3) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which is an entrenched provision to pave way for the introduction of multi-partisan local government system in Ghana. She stressed that the Referendum has to garner at least 40% voter turnout of the total registered voters in the country and at least 75% of that number must vote in favor of the proposal. She, therefore, encouraged the first time voters to take advantage of the upcoming elections to exercise their voting rights as Ghanaians.
The Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Kofi Amoakohene, promised that his outfit as well as the MMDCEs in Bono East Region would support the campaign to ensure that at the end of 17 December, 2019, the objective of the conduct of the elections can be achieved.
The NCCE Deputy Chairman, Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, at the Bono East launch called on the media to support the NCCE in its public education campaign. He elucidated that many Ghanaians are relating the amendment of Article 55(3) of the Constitution to the election of the MMDCEs which is not the case. He said that citizens will only get the opportunity to elect their MMDCEs if Parliament amends Article 243(1), which gives the President the power to appoint MMDCEs. The Deputy Chairman urged participants to impress upon their Members of Parliament to expedite action on the amendment of Article 243 (1).
The Ahafo Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. John Appiah Baffoe assured the participants of the readiness of the EC to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections on 17 December 2019.
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