Bishop condemns political violence

Yendi (N/R), Sept. 15, GNA - The Catholic Bishop of Yendi, Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai has added his voice to the condemnation of the recent violence that erupted at Tamale and Gushiegu in the Northern Region.

He said violence should not be the means of handling of a tense situation since the use of violence only leads to spiral violence. Bishop Boi-Nai made condemnation when he addressed an emergency meeting of the Yendi Peace Committee at Yendi in the Northern Region. He appealed to Ghanaians, especially those in the conflict areas to settle their differences through dialogue, forgiveness, reconciliation and readiness to compromise one's position for the sake of peace. Bishop Boi-Nai called on politicians to conduct their political campaigns with decorum following the code of conduct outlined for political parties.

According to Bishop Boi-Nai, popular opinion has it that often people commit violent crimes and they are not punished and for that reason others think they can take the law into their hands and nothing will happen to them.

He therefore advocated for prompt action to be taken when people resort to acts of violence to serve as a deterrent. Bishop Boi-Nai attributed poverty as a factor that leads many young and unemployed people to take to violence at the least provocation. He urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to create more job opportunities for the youth, particularly those engaged in agriculture.

He indicated that, the allegations are that there were so many small arms in the hands of people and these guns were used when violence flared up.

Bishop Boi-Nai appealed to the security officers to intensify their efforts to retrieve all arms from people in possession of unlicensed guns.

He stated that there is the need for more permanent peace officers to be stationed at all conflict areas to always maintain peace and order instead of on detachment duties.

In his welcoming address, the Secretary of the Yendi Peace Committee, Mr Peter Atia appealed to the Central Government, NGOs, National Peace Council, Regional Peace Councils, benevolent societies and Members of Parliament of the Northern Region to help fund the Yendi Peace Council to extend the peace activities in the Eastern Corridor to other parts.

Mr Atia commended the United Nations Development Programme for supporting the committee. He stated that the purpose of the emergency meeting was to organize special prayers for the people of Tamale, Kpatinga and Gushiegu for a peaceful co-existence and education on the need for peace in those areas.

He said as a people they must first of all place God first and always obey his commandments or the ten pillars of Islam. Mr Atia said when this is done nobody will like to destroy lives and property whenever they find themselves in conflicts. He urged the members of the committee to work tirelessly towards peaceful elections.

He commended the police and the soldiers in the area for their cooperation with the committee in maintaining peace and order in the area towards peaceful elections in December before during and after the elections.

Mr. Atia called on Ghanaians to cooperate with the security agencies by being law abiding to ensure a successful election in December. 15 Sept. 08