Wa, Nov. 5, GNA - The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), have launched a peace initiative on the Wa campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS) to help manage conflicts in the North.

The NDC aims at pursuing the initiative through the party's chapter of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network on campus (TEIN) whilst the NPP is using the Tertiary Education Students Confederation (TESCOM) as the platform.

The plan is the brainchild of Mr. Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information.

It aims among other things to engage youth groups in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, to preach peace and resolve protracted conflicts in Bawku, Yendi, Tamale and Gushiegu. Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa launched the initiative in Wa on Wednesday with Mr. Enumi Cudjoe, President of TEIN and the TESCOM President, Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Hakam.

Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa said conflicts in the North were a source of worry to the government because they had contributed immensely to the under-development of the area.

He urged the Kusasi and Mamprusi factions in the Bawku conflict, to soften their stance and give peace a chance.

The Deputy Information Minister appealed to regional and district executives of the other political parties, to replicate the efforts of the two students' wings of the NDC and NPP to promote peace in the North. Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa expressed concern about the bad nature of major roads in the three regions and poor television reception. The Information Minister used his visit to the Upper West Region, to tour the office premises of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Ghana Times, Daily Graphic and the Information Services Department.

He promised to use his office to provide a computer each to the GNA and the Ghanaian Times and ensure that GBC gets office accommodation and security fence.

Mr. Okudzeto-Ablakwa visited Gwollu, the capital of Sissala West District, where smuggling of petroleum products is going on across Burkina Faso.

He appealed to the security personnel and members of the district assembly to collaborate with the traditional authorities to help reduce the smuggling. GNA