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Political parties not meeting their constitutional mandate -
Baa-Owusu
Accra, April 12, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr Kwaku
Baa-Owusu, Public Education Director of National Commission
for Civic Education (NCCE) on Saturday challenged political
parties to develop the norms and traits of democracy in the
society, especially among the youth.
"Political parties have failed their constitutional
obligation of educating the public, hence most of their
members do not even know their party's constitution, or
manifesto to campaign for an election.
"This development has reduced politics to personality
attacks, wide electoral promises and other undemocratic
campaigning," he said at a day's training workshop for youth
on the electoral process in Accra.
The workshop organized by NCCE and some non-governmental
organizations was to appeal to the youth to participate in
electioneering and foster a paradigm shift in the attitude
of the youth especially the first time voter, those who had
attained the age of 18 and above towards democracy.
Mr Baa-Owusu noted that most political parties had become
electoral tools prepared for battle every four years,
stressing that "if the development continued unchecked, we
run the risk of establishing elected dictatorship with all
the symptoms of democracy but without the form of
democracy."
"Therefore the political significance of parties is no
longer determined by popular support, as pertaining in
democratic countries in the world. We must therefore stop
making it almost impossible for people to succeed in
politics without soiling their hands," he said.
Mr Baa-Owusu said lack of political education had made the
youth not to show interest in electioneering because they
seemed not to understand that the decisions and policies
elected government implemented tended to affect them.
He stressed that political parties were only instruments
through which individuals with the same political interests
merged towards achieving a common goal which was political
power on how to manage the country on behalf of the people.
Mr Baa-Owusu called on the youth to educate themselves to be
well informed about political parties and their political
ideologies before deciding to exercise their franchise.
Speaking on the topic "What Happens on Voting Day" Nana Kofi
Karikari, Internal Public Affairs Officer of Electoral
Commission educating the youth described the electoral
process especially the period between casting of votes and
declaration of results as very critical.
He said normal voting was expected to start at all polling
stations at 0700 hours and end at 1700 hours in the open.
GNA
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