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Ghanaians cautioned against political ethnocentrism
Nandom, (U/W), April 22, Ghanadot/GNA -
Ghanaians have been warned that the tendency to elect
political leaders based on ethnocentrism and religious
background could negatively affect the country's young
democracy.
Madam Agnes A. Ganda, Coordinator of Tamale Ecclesiastical
Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON), a Catholic
non-governmental organisation (NGO), who gave the caution,
said such a trend could also result in electing incompetent
and greedy people.
She was speaking at a two-day workshop on good governance
and development, organised by TEPPCON for 70 youth from
political, religious, civil society and youth organisations
in Nandom on Monday.
Madam Ganda urged Ghanaians to vote for or accept people
into political leadership because of their competence,
honesty and patriotism, and who could positively change the
lives of the people.
"Our leaders should be people who are ready to ensure that
every community enjoy its share of the national cake," she
said.
Madam Ganda urged the youth to avoid politics of insults and
to ensure unity for development and advised traditional
rulers not to participate in party politics.
Mr Isaac Owusu Mensah, Senior Programme Manager of KAS;
advised the youth to take advantage of the Government's
educational policies to acquire skills and knowledge
necessary for development.
He called on the Government and organisations to collaborate
in their efforts to address the problems of poverty and drug
abuse, which were affecting the development of the youth.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a Germany nongovernmental
organisation, sponsored the forum that was on the theme:
"Good governance and development - The role of the youth."
It was aimed at providing the youth with knowledge and
skills to enable them to avoid negative influence from
politicians and opinion leaders.
GNA
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