Educate youth activists to follow laid down procedures – Political parties urged

Political parties have been urged to educate especially their youth activists to respect the principles of rule of law, equity, fairness, justice and transparency to ensure continued peace in the country.

“There is the need to instill in the youth a strong desire for peace through internal processes of peacebuilding, problem identification and conflict resolution to ensure that they followed laid down procedures in seeking redress,” Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, the Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), said on Monday.

He urged political parties to tolerate opposing views as that was the beauty of democracy to propel the development of the country.

Alhaji Saani said this in a presentation at an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting at Zabzugu by the NCCE District Office.

The meeting was to reignite dialogue amongst political parties and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful coexistence for national cohesion.

It was also to reinforce the role of the parties as key stakeholders for ensuring peace and security in the country as well as to reignite dialogue on inter/intra political party grievances handling procedures.

Participants included representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, security agencies, faith-based organisations, youth and women groups.

The event formed part of the Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana project funded by the European Union to amongst other things counter violent extremism in the country.

Alhaji Saani urged IPDC members to take their roles seriously by deepening collaboration amongst political parties, the youth and security agencies to ensure peace in the area and prevent actions likely to incite the youth.

Father Eliger Nakoba Kuadmo, the Chairman of the IPDC in the Zabzugu District IPDC Chairman, urged members to take active interest in the activities of the Committee to ensure peace.

The “Zabzugu District is the only place we have. Therefore, we must all contribute to ensuring peace and tranquility. There is no place like home,” he said.

Chief Mutawakil Abubakari, representative of the Chief of Yelzoli, said the community watchdogs or volunteers would be supported to strengthen their work to deal with criminals in the area.

Madam Muazu Balkisu, a representative of the Youth in Parliament Association, called for enhanced sensitisation in the communities on extremist activities since many of the terrorist groups targeted remote areas.

Mr Mohammed Abdul-Rahaman, a representative of the New Patriotic Party, called on the parties to champion the cause of peace and tolerance in the area.

He said this could be achieved by constantly advising their followers to tolerate the views of members of other political parties.