The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Thursday congratulated Ghanaians on the peaceful manner in which the December 7, 2008 elections were held and commended all stakeholders for their role in achieving the free and fair outcome. NCCE said that a peaceful election was the product of a combination of factors which were important to recognise the critical role that an informed electorate played in ensuring the free, fair and transparent nature of elections which expressed the sovereign will of the people. In a statement in Accra signed by the Chairman, Mr Larry Bimi, it noted with concern the few incidents of procedural shortcomings and disagreements among political party operatives leading to delays, hold-ups and the growing phenomenon of spoiled and/or rejected ballots. The statement said the NCCE intended to intensify its collaboration with the Electoral Commission and other partners to sensitize the Ghanaian electorate on the correct way of voting. “Any single vote rejected is a sovereign will misapplied and an opportunity to influence national decision lost”, the commission reiterated. “The NCCE would in this regard appeal to those who will be going to the polls again very soon and at all times to avail themselves to requisite information and knowledge about election rules ,regulations, procedures and processes provided by institutions like the NCCE and the Electoral Commission in order to make them effective participants in the electoral process.” NCCE called on all the key stakeholders in Ghana’s elections including the citizens of Ghana, the EC, political parties, the security agencies, the media, civil society including democratic organizations and election observers to help maintain the spirit of peace, fairness, transparency in all elections. Source: GNA