Minister stresses need for tolerance among youth

Kumasi, June 26, GNA - Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, has stressed the need for the youth to gear their energy towards profitable ventures that would enhance the country's development. He said the stability of the nation depended on the youth's ability to tolerate each other's views and not perceive themselves as enemies.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, made the call when he addressed members of the Adventist Men's Organisation (AMO) of the Ash-Town branch of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church after they had undertaken a three-hour clean-up exercise at Ash-Town in Kumasi on Sunday. The exercise formed part of activities marking the church's "Father's Day" on the occasion of their 13th Sabbath Day.

Dr Addo-Kufuor cautioned the youth to eschew violence, gangsterism and other vices that tarnished the nation's image, stressing that as the beacon of hope in the sub-region, it behoved the citizenry to strive towards sustaining the nation's peace. The defence Minister indicated that it was high time communities, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations took it upon themselves to lead the campaign in ensuring environmental cleanliness. He commended the church for embarking on the exercise and expressed the hope that they will regularly engage themselves in the exercise to keep the area clean.

Mr Frank Adu-Gyamfi, chairman of AMO, called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to intensify their education of the public not to litter refuse haphazardly since such attitude went a long way of breeding mosquitoes.