The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful bye-election at Chereponi. A statement signed by William Dowokpor, Communications Director of the CPP, said it has noted with concern, signals of impending violence in the run up to the September 29, 2009 bye-elections in Chereponi, following accusations and counter accusations from the NDC and NPP camps, of stockpiling of arms and ammunitions for the purpose. The party therefore calls on authorities in charge of security, elections and civic education to take immediate steps to prevent any confrontation and violence at Chereponi. The statement charged security agencies to deploy personnel in the area to enforce peace professionally, and without fear or favour. “We also call on the Electoral Commission (EC) to prepare adequately in terms of personnel and logistics to conduct a free and fair bye-election to meet the expectations of any objective observer”, the statement said. “We wish to remind the NDC and NPP that election is the vehicle that drives democracy. There is, therefore, no place for violence in democratic elections and good governance”, it added. According to the statement, the CPP condemns all moves by the two main political parties to engage in violent acts without reservation. “We call on all candidates, political parties and officials to respect the political parties and electoral codes of conduct that we have all signed at one time or the other”, it said. It also calls on the National Commission For Civic Education (NCCE) to lend their support to the EC by undertaking a constituency-wide public awareness campaign, which it suggests should include criminalization of election violence and a ban on guns in the constituency during the run up to the bye-election. ”Finally we call on the Electoral Commission to get the contesting parties and candidates to immediately sign an agreement to conduct the elections peacefully”, it said. The Chereponi seat became vacant following the death of its Member of Paliament, Honourable Doris Siedu. By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana