After days of incessant accusations, verbal and physical assault in the Odododiodio Constituency, the two feuding factions in the constituency, the ruling National Democratic Congress� (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, and the New Patriotic Party�s (NPP) Capt (rtd) Victor Okaikwei have pledged to work for peace in the ongoing biometric registration exercise.
At a meeting organised by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander at the Engineers Centre in the constituency, the two candidates discussed their grievances, mapped out strategies towards achieving a lasting solution to the peculiar problems in the area and promised to work for peace.
Speaking to The Finder, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije said the meeting serveed to broker peace and show potential voters in the constituency that elections were not about violence, but rather the rule of law.
�We have been able to discuss openly the issues that confront us and the problems that gave rise to violence here recently. We are one big family and what has happened here today is a show of maturity from both parties and I hope this sends out the message of goodwill.�
Capt (rtd) Victor Okaikwei also told The Finder, �I hope that this meeting helps eliminate the feeling of danger that has engulfed the constituency. It�s a beautiful and mutual relationship between us today as we work towards peace and togetherness. We want an atmosphere of stability which is conducive to the upliftment of the entire Odododiodoo Constituency.�
The Odododiodoo Constituency has been in the news lately after being saddled with violence and threats of violence in the ongoing biometric registration exercise, culminating in the assault of the Ablekuma South parliamentary aspirant for the NPP, Ursula Owusu.
It can be recalled that the issue of who is ordinarily a resident became the cause of confusion associated with the registration exercise. While one school of thought believed that an ordinarily resident means that a voter who spends a lot of time in an electoral area, but may not necessarily be resident in the area can register in that area; another view suggested otherwise.
At the end, the parties asked the Electoral Commission (EC) to explain who was a resident person, but there was no representative of the Electoral Commission (EC) at the meeting.
The Greater Accra Regional Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla, who chaired the function, reminded the leaders of the two parties that Ghana has gained international recognition and respect for upholding the tenets of democracy.
�Ghana is seen in the world as one of the democratic countries and we have been doing well to ensure our elections are devoid of violence,� he said.
He charged the leadership of the NPP and the NDC in the constituency to use the laid down rules and regulations clearly spelt out for the biometric registration to resolve any problems they might have with the process.
�Lets us see a positive attitude; let�s have peace between the two parties,� DCOP Timbilla said. He promised the parties of prompt redress to any complaints made.
At the end of the day, the two, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, and Captain (rtd) Victor Okaikoi, parliamentary candidate of the NPP, agreed to hold a peace march at a date to be agreed upon by the leadership of their parties to impress upon their supporters on the need for peaceful co-existence.
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