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Don't play on emotions of the people for power"- Minister
Tamale, July 2, Ghanadot/GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris,
Northern Regional Minister, has urged political parties and
their leaders to be guarded in their utterances on sensitive
issues which do not augur well for the peace and
reconciliation of the country.
He said nobody's purpose would be served by playing on the
ethnic and factional emotions of the people. "If we want to
be credible leaders, we need to soften our agent-provocateur
language and utterances".
Alhaji Idris was speaking at a reception hosted by the
Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for senior citizens in
the region as part of activities marking Republic Day on
Tuesday.
He reminded political parties and the people aspiring to be
elected to power that peace was a prerogative for free and
fair elections and it would therefore be counter-productive
to be beating the war drums and continue to incite or make
provocative utterances that tend to deepen divisions and
cause strife.
Alhaji Idris said the situation in Bawku and Dagbon were not
the best indicator for free and fair elections and therefore
urged all stakeholders in the peace process in those areas
to create an enabling environment in which the people could
cast their votes without fear or intimidation.
Alhaji Idris said Ghanaians should let the lessons of
countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe guide them as the
country goes to the polls in December.
He urged the senior citizens to use their influence to talk
to the youth to be law abiding and not allow themselves to
be used by self-seeking politicians to create violence
during their political campaigns.
He commended senior citizens for their immense contributions
to the socio-economic development of the country and said
their efforts cannot be fully rewarded.
Mr. Charles Abass, the Regional Coordinating Director,
advised the younger generation to respect and honour their
elders for the role they played in building the nation.
Several prominent senior citizens, including Hajia Adisah
Munkaila, a former member of the Council of State, Mr. James
Bakari and Mr. Seidu Seini, both retired educationist were
honoured.
GNA
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