Yeji Youth warned against violence

Yeji (B/A) Nov. 30, GNA - Ms. Harriet Pataki, Programmes Officer of Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), has cautioned the youth of Yeji in the Pru District of Brong-Ahafo not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble in the run-up to the December polls. She noted with concern that development projects would continue to be at a standstill at Yeji, the capital of the newly created district, if the people regarded violence "as a tool for political warfare". Ms Pataki was addressing supporters, activists and sympathizers of some political parties at a parliamentary debate organized by the CDD for candidates vying for the Pru constituency seat at Yeti recently. Mr Been Agenda Adzormahe, Parliamentary Candidate of the Convention People's Party and Dr King-David Amoah, an Independent, attended the debate while candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the People's National Convention (PNC) failed to turn up.

Also in attendance at the debate, moderated by Mr Peter Kwabena Gyasi, District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Mr Yaw Atakora, National Vice President of Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, were traditional leaders, Assembly Members and representatives of the security agencies. Questions asked centred on education, drainage system, health, employment and agriculture.

Ms Potakey expressed regret that Yeji had been noted for political violence since 1992 and emphasized the need for political parties more especially the NDC and NPP to educate their followers about their conduct to make this year's election violence-free. Mr Adzormahe explained that education was his major priority and when given the mandate would liaise with the District Assembly and other NGOs to establish an endowment fund to assist students. He said as a professional teacher he would also work hand in hand with his colleagues to organize free remedial classes for the students. The CPP candidate noted with regret that pupils and students boycotted classes on Mondays, which were 'market days at Yeji' and went fishing.

Mr Adzormahe said when given the nod, he would liaise with the District Assembly and traditional authorities at Yeji to enact byelaws that would bar children from going near the lake on weekdays. Dr Amoah said he intended to work with the teachers and traditional leaders in the area to set-up a taskforce to monitor and arrest recalcitrant students to minimize the rate of truancy amongst them. He expressed concern about the upsurge of drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and alcoholism among the youth and attributed it to the rate of unemployment and pledged to use part the Members of Parliament's share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund to assist the youth to venture into agriculture.

The Independent candidate noted that because of poverty most of the children in Yeji were engaged in child labour and stressed the need to provide the school children with some basic necessities. Dr Amoah appealed to the electorate to vote massively for him in December to enable him to actualise his ideas. 30 Nov.08