No need to put pressure on gov't -Henyo

Mr Aryee Henyo, a former Presiding Member of the Ketu District Assembly, at the weekend appealed to the government to resist the temptation of being criticised by its perceived opponents.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that such actions might result in tension that the government would find difficult to manage and make it unpopular.

Mr Henyo said the government, in its dealings with former President Jerry John Rawlings must draw lessons from occurrences in some West African countries and must act with maturity. He said if the government took hard-line positions in matters involving notable people in politics the country could be divided.

Mr Henyo, who was the Reform Party's Parliamentary candidate for Ketu South Constituency 2000 elections, advised the ex President to be diplomatic in his comments about the government to avoid tension. He called on Ghanaians to stop putting undue pressure on the government but rather allow it time to manage the many problems facing the country.

''Pressure to see things happen too quickly can lead the government to adopt ad hoc measures that may increase the problems.'' "The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has the mandate to rule for four years and all must remain patient,'' he said

Mr Henyo said though criticism was part of the democratic process it must not be based on any political agenda for whipping up sentiments against the government and make it unpopular.