Don't relent in defending the nation - Aliu

Tema, Nov. 5, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama, on Friday, urged officers of the Ghana Armed Forces to faithfully defend the security and stability of the nation, especially during the electioneering period. Addressing members of the Muslim soldiers after praying with them at the Michel Camp Mosque at Tema, the Vice President advised them to maintain their neutrality and be firm but fair to all parties in their duties.

"Play your role so effectively that all sides will perceive you as defenders of the nation at this critical period," he said. "Combine your professional ethics with the tenets of your religion and be mindful at all times that the national interest is supreme and no individual is above that."

Vice President Mahama, however, told them to acknowledge the diversity in the background of Ghanaians as a national asset that should be harmonised for progress and accommodate people with opposing positions for peaceful co-existence.

"There should be brotherly love and understanding amongst us no matter how different our perceptions on issues," he stressed. Vice President Mahama also visited four communities in the Kpone Kantamanso Constituency and interacted with the chiefs and people. They include Tukula, Oyibi, Kpone Bawaleshie and Zenu.

He told the chiefs to support the Government's agenda to ensure free, peaceful, and fair elections by prevailing on their people to be politically tolerant and avoid activities that would undermine peace. "Insults, violence and lies would not bring votes or development," he stressed.

Vice President Mahama assured the people that the Government would continue its development agenda to reduce poverty and create wealth through the modernisation of agriculture, infrastructural development, providing improved health care and quality education when the Kufuor Administration is given another mandate to rule.

He introduced Mr Solomon Tettey Appiah, NPP's parliamentary candidate for the area to them and urged them to elect him to serve them in the next Parliament.

The Chief of Oyibi, Nii Borketey Osualey and the Chief of Kpone Bawaleshie, Nii Kenetey Nartey II, both commended the Government for providing them with educational, health and other amenities and urged it to address their outstanding needs, which include upgrading their respective community roads.

Mr Rashid Bawa, Minister of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Ben Salifu, Minister at the Office of the Senior Minister, Alhaji Hussein Maigah, Chairman of the Nasara Club and other party officials accompanied the Vice President.