This is not an era of vengeance - Avoka

Tamale, Feb. 25, GNA - Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior on Wednesday assured Ghanaians that the change of government was not an era of vengeance and advised all to comport themselves to ensure peace and development.

He said the NDC was committed to peace, unity in development and that the party's slogan of "A better Ghana" did not translate to mean killing one another and warned that any one who indulged in acts of violence would be dealt with, no matter his or her political affiliation.

Mr. Avoka gave the assurance in Tamale when he led a government delegation to inspect and ascertain acts of arson that took place in Tamale where seven houses and three vehicles were burnt in renewed violence last Sunday between supporters of the NDC and the NPP in the Tamale Metropolis.

The arson took place after the burial of one Abdul Rashid who was shot dead in a previous clash between the two parties about two weeks ago. The Minister and his entourage visited the seven destroyed houses in Gumbihini, Chogu and Nyohini and sympathized with displaced persons and assured them of government's support to resettle them.

Addressing the leadership of both parties and security personnel after the tour, Mr. Avoka said the NDC government was committed to letting justice prevail in the country and that anybody found disturbing the peace would be treated accordingly without fear or favour.

He said there was the need for all to eschew favouritism and nepotism and help chart a new path of development to erase the negative impression "that held the north to ransom for many years." "What people did in the past and we were not happy, there is no need for us to repeat them. A wrong always remains the same, no matter how you turn it", he said, and urged all to emulate the humility of Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Vice President John Mahama and work for national unity.

Mr. Avoka said the government would chart a new path of conflict resolution and would empower agencies fighting conflict with the necessary tools to ensure that there was peace, unity and national cohesion.

He advised the security personnel to remain neutral in execution of their duty to win public confidence saying, "We went round and you all heard the people. If you cannot prosecute a single person who misbehaved in the past, how do you expect the public to have trust in you?" He said the Ministry of the Interior would in the near future, compel Regional Commanders of the security forces to sign performance contract and whoever failed to perform would be replaced.

Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister expressed regret that, at a time when some people in the north could not afford to pay school fees, hospital medical bills they could afford to use money to purchase weapons for destruction.

He said the monies and the energies used in solving conflicts in the north would have been used in finding ways of developing the north. The delegation expressed disappointment in the regional leadership of the NPP some of who withdrew at the last minute from the inspection tour and failed to meet with the delegation after the inspection of the burnt houses without reasons. 25 Feb. 09