The Ekumfi Ansaman Chief, Nana Bambil Ansah V, has called on people living in the Constituency to embrace peace and cohesion for development.

The youth must shun politicians who would incite them with money and material things to destabilise the peace because such people had nothing good to offer the constituency.

Nana Ansah, who is the Ekumfi Inter-Party Dialogue Committee Chairperson, advised a forum organised by the Ekumfi office of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) at Ekumfi Essarkyir.

The participants had the opportunity to interact with Dr Othniel Kwow Kwainoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the area who was the only PC to attend the event.

Among the participants were chiefs and queen mothers, religious leaders, youth groups and supporters and members of the NDC and civil society organisations.

Nana Ansah emphasised the need for everyone living in the area to peacefully coexist to develop and never to fight because of partisan politics.

He further appealed to politicians and social commentators to refrain from the use of indecent expressions and foul language in the media and on political platforms to ensure peace.

Mrs Dora Hammond, Director of Administration at the Head office of the NCCE, stated that the issues of priority to the electorate were education, health, better roads, and other infrastructure.

She urged politicians to therefore engage in issue-based campaigns to canvass for votes because elections were not war but a process to elect persons capable of ruling the country to the satisfaction of all.

According to her, NCCE was more concerned about the current issue of monetisation in politics and advised Ghanaians to stop the practice.

“Do not allow yourselves to be influenced by money to make decisions you will regret in future.

“Your vote is your birthright and you must decide for yourselves by voting wisely for socio-economic development and good governance among others to better your lots,” Mrs Hammond advised.

Madam Cecilia Dam, the Ekumfi District Director of the Commission earlier, stated that Ghana had successfully conducted eight Presidential and parliamentary elections culminating in the peaceful transition of political power from one ruling party to the opposition party in 2000, 2008 and 2016.

She stated that research conducted by the research department of the Commission in all 276 constituencies showed more concerns about education, employment, and good economy.

“Hence the platform, for parliamentary candidates to sell their ideas, visions, Programmes and policies to the electorate to make informed choices when casting their votes, to meet their needs”.

She appealed to the people of Ekumfiman to let peace be their topmost priority and as ambassadors of peace, promote peace and tranquillity in the area.

Dr Kwainoe took the participants through his vision and programmes and assured them that he would work together with all stakeholders to improve educational standards in the area.

He promised to lobby for the construction of roads and more clinics, support needy but brilliant students to further their education and the youth to learn vocational skills when given the nod.

He would also lobby for the extension of electricity and other socio-economic developments for the constituency.

He promised to work for peace, before, during and after the December elections and help to make Ekumfiman a place of choice.