The conduct of certain persons and institutions towards the impending referendum, to decide on the introduction of multi-party democracy in our local governance system, has alerted some of us to the perception and intentions people have about our multi-party democracy.  In their desire to maintain a no party system in our decentralised local government structure, some persons, either out of hatred, personal agenda or the emotional attachment to the political system at the local governance level, have discredited the present multi-party democratic system at the national level.  They are rather trying to convince Ghanaians to adore the no-party system and shun multi-party democracy as the worst form of political arrangement we ever had and practised. This is a call to all well-meaning Ghanaians who cherish multi-party democracy to rise up to be counted. GET OUT TO VOTE YES ON DECEMBER 17. BENEFITS OF VOTING YES. 1. It will strengthen our multi-party democracy which is consistent with our Constitution. 2. It will remove the no party, one party anomaly in our  Local Governance system. 3. It will strengthen our system of decentralised local government by providing a coordinated, organised political system.  4. It will as far as practicable afford the opportunity for effective participation by political parties in the governance of particular local government areas. 5. It will provide greater opportunity for citizens of voting age to participate in political activities intended to influence the composition and policies at the local government level. 6. It will meet the constitutional mandate imposed on political parties to freely participate in shaping the political will of the people at the local government level. 7. It will deepen the activities of political parties in disseminating information on political ideas, social and economic programmes at the local government level. 8. It will afford political parties the opportunity to sponsor candidates for District Level Elections. 9. It will bring political experience and competence in the practice and management of political parties at the local governance level. 10. It will promote better and organised control of the majority of persons who will be elected and will govern through multi-party democracy at the local level. 11. It will minimise the exclusion of smaller parties from governance at the local level. 12. It will create a greater need for and application of affirmative action in our local governance system. 13. It will require political parties to mandatorily include marginalised persons for representation in local governance. 14. It will compel political parties to groom and identify credible, capable and competent persons for elections to the District Assemblies. 15. It will lead to the Assemblies better resourced and improved to manage their governance at the local level for the development of their areas and Districts. 16. It will widen the choice of the electorate with regard to parties who will want to be part of the governance at the local level. 17. It will promote tolerance and coexistence of political parties at the local level and lead to better multi-party democracy. 18. It will promote accountability, trust and a better understanding of multi-party democracy which will benefit the nation. 19. It will promote voter participation and interest in elections and governance at the local level. 20. It will minimise the perceived divisive negative and hostile nature of politics. 21. It will compel the central Government to invest in the sustenance of multi-party democracy at the decentralised local government level. 22. It will encourage political and democratic institutions to assist in sustaining multi-party democracy at the local government level. 23. It will be the manifestation of equality of opportunity and the affirmation of the constitutional requirement that multi-party democracy is the foundation of our politics and governance at all levels. 24. It will make the state meet the constitutional mandate to promote among the people of Ghana the culture of political tolerance. 25. It will assist the state to undertake even and balanced development of each part of the country and in particular improve the conditions of life in deprived areas and rural parts of the country. This is a call to protect and promote multiparty democracy. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to strengthen and place multiparty democracy in our local governance system. It is YES, YES, YES on December 17.