2024 Elections: Chief of Paga appeals for peaceful elections

The Paramount Chief of Paga, in collaboration with the Paga Youth Movement, has held a meeting in Paga, in the Upper East Region, to brainstorm and roll out measures that will promote peace during and after the upcoming elections within their enclave.

The move was in the wake of the impending presidential and parliamentary elections. It was intended to safeguard the peace of the area during and after the elections.

Present at the gathering included traditional leaders, political leaders, and other stakeholders, including all youth groups in various political parties.

Addressing the gathering, the Paramount Chief of the Paga Traditional Area, Pe Charles Awampaga II, pointed out that the purpose of the meeting was to come up with suggestions on how they would go about the campaign and elections devoid of violence.

"How do we do a clean campaign so that we will have a free, fair, and incident-free election for all of us?" he quizzed.

He stated that they are one people and, for that matter, should not do anything that will destroy them just because of politics.

After a thorough discussion, they came up with suggestions, which were noted.

The chief concluded that they would not tamper justice with mercy if anybody tried to cause trouble.

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Dickson Adiali, who was present, conceded that without peace, there can't be development.

He therefore called for peaceful coexistence among the political parties.

"It is very important for both of us to see the need for that peaceful coexistence because if we destroy ourselves, even if we get power, what are we going to use it for?" he quizzed.

Mr. Adiali noted that it is expensive to maintain peace and called for party members to forgive each other.

For his part, the Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Alhaji Mohammed Karim Gago, indicated that the NPP is committed to promoting peace in Paga during and after the elections.

He noted that the chief is a peaceful person who does not like conflict in his territory.

It was therefore the reason he called all parties to talk to them and advise them on the need to live peacefully and avert any conflict in the upcoming elections.

He called on the leadership of all parties to be disciplined and instill the same virtue in their followers.

"It's about discipline; leadership should be discipline and discipline our followers," he emphasized.

The NPP Chairman further called on the leadership of the NDC and NPP to hand over anybody who misbehaves to the police without compromise.

"Discipline our followers to make sure that anybody who misbehaves will be handed over after the action," he said.

This, he said, will serve as a deterrent to others who intend to do the same.

He concluded that he was going to convene a meeting with his members and conscientize them on the need for peace and the consequences of non-compliance.