Politicians asked to ensure country remains united
The paramount queen mother of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Akua Asantewaa III, has called on politicians from both sides of the political divide to ensure that the country remains united after the December 7, 2016 general election.
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She has, therefore, urged them to conduct their campaigns with decorum devoid of insults, hate language, intimidation and character assassination in order to sustain the prevailing peace and national stability.
Nana Asantewaa made the call when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Abirem, Mr John Osei-Frimpong, paid a courtesy call on her and her elders at Akyem Oda last Thursday.
Advice
She advised political heads to impress upon their activists and supporters not to do anything to inflame passions, stressing that they should enjoin their supporters to refrain from ballot box snatching, which reprisals could spark off violence.
Nana Asantewaa urged politicians to be very vigilant at the polling stations as those were where elections were won or lost.
She also stressed the need for the Electoral Commission, which is the referee for the upcoming general election, to be fair and objective in the discharge of its legitimate duties in a fair and transparent manner without leaning towards any political party for both the victor and the vanquished to accept the verdict of the polls in good faith.
Maximise votes
Nana Asantewaa advised Mr Osei-Frimpong not only to be selfless, but also intensify his campaigns in the remote areas in order to maximise his votes.
She pleaded with him to undertake more development projects in Akyem Kotoku, if he and his party wins the polls, as the area had been neglected by previous governments.
The Kontihene of Akyem Kotoku, Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyereh, praised Mr Osei-Frimpong for the respect he had accorded the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council and wished him success in his aspiration.
Other chiefs
The other chiefs at the ceremony, Nana Ofori Atta, Safohene, Nana Akyea Mensah II, Osahene, and Nana Owusu Gyamadu, the Ayinasehene, took turns to educate Mr Osei-Frimpong and his entourage on educating party supporters to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
Mr Osei-Frimpong thanked Nana Asantewaa and the other traditional rulers for their advice and promised to abide by it.
Entourage
Mr Osei-Frimpong’s entourage included Mr Joseph Acheampong, Abirem NPP Constituency Chairman, Mr Akwasi Ofori Amanto, party elder, Mr David Okyere aka Okyeman, and Mrs Florence Nkansah Gyasi, Oda Constituency NPP Organiser and Deputy Women’s organiser, respectively.