Mr. Emmanuel Anyimadu, Clerk of Parliament, on Friday advised students to contribute their quota towards a peaceful and violent-free election in December.
He said they could do so by comporting themselves and educating their communities to eschew all acts that could mar the electoral process.
“You should be mindful of the fact that there is no substitute for peace; and that a peaceful environment is a pre-requisite for progress, as well as human development.”
Mr. Anyimadu who was inaugurating the Koforidua Polytechnic Students Parliament, urged the students not to engage in any act that had the tendency to compromise the peace of the country.
He said the quest for peace had become even more critical, judging from the pockets of violence that characterised the just ended biometric registration.
Mr. Anyimadu reminded the students that as future leaders, they constituted the most important resource required for the development of the country.
“It is therefore imperative for us as an institution, involved in making laws for the governance of the country to adequately prepare the youth to effectively take over the mantle of leadership,” he said.
Mr Anyimadu announced that, the National Youth Authority (NYA) was in the process of establishing a National Youth Parliament by July 1 this year and that all Students Parliament in the various tertiary institutions would be in the forefront of that undertaking.
He indicated that the prominence given to the Students Parliament by the NYA was a clear indication that the concept had gained grounds and had virtually become part and parcel of the democratic dispensation.
Mr Anyimadu encouraged the students to discuss pertinent issues that were critical to their survival and future well-being.
Professor Reynolds Okai, Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, noted that the future of the nation depended to a large extent on the Youth Parliament, adding “Our success or failure depends on how you comport yourselves”.
He advised the students to actively participate in the electoral process peacefully and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble before, during and after the December general election.
Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng, Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, advised the youth to stay away from all forms of vices that could land them in trouble.**
