Politicians urged to take measures to promote peace

Kumasi, Nov. 18, GNA - Mr Adam Alhassan, Deputy Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has urged politicians to help to promote peace to safeguard the country's security and stability.

"This would be achieved when they uphold the tenets of political tolerance and avoid the use of provocative statements and abusive languages that has the tendency of sparing violence". Mr Alhassan said this when he addressed a peace rally organized by Saint Peter's Cathedral Basilica and the Sword of the Spirit Catholic Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group to climax a five-day prayer programme and peace walk in Kumasi On Saturday. The peace walk was aimed at sensitizing the public and Christian groups on the need to preach peace, pray and work for peace in the 2008 elections.

Mr Alhassan also stressed that Ghana could only prosper in an atmosphere of peace and stability, where everyone was respected and involved in the decision making process. "We should have fair, objective and respectful attitudes towards those whose opinions, practices, religion, nationality, race, group or political party differ from our own," he added. He said political parties should ensure that the code of conduct for political parties would be observed to the latter, adding that they should not encourage their supporters to disrupt their opponents' political rallies.

The electorates, he noted, were crucial in the country's democratic process, so they must participate in the election and abide by all the electoral laws and be committed to national development, he said. Mr James Asante Agyemang, Chairman of the planning Committee said the programme had been a success and expressed the hope that it would make a positive impact on the youth in particular. He called on the youth to be disciplined and vigilant and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause chaos in the country.