Methodist youth demand peace from politicians

Takoradi, July 3, GNA - Mr. Seth Amoah, Chairman of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), has said Ghanaian youth must demand that all politicians should promote peace, free, fair and peaceful election in December.

He said it would be unwise for any political party to undertake acts that could ruin the existing peace in the country, adding "the youth require nothing but peace." Mr. Amoah said this after a float through some principal streets in Takoradi organized by the MYF in Takoradi on Monday. It was on the theme "free and fair election, lets promote peace now".

It was attended by some political party representatives, parliamentary candidates and members of the MYF. He said peace was a vital ingredient in the socio-economic development of any nation. "We cannot allow the existing peace in the country to be violated in the interest of political power." "Without peace, our development agenda would be affected and the human resource potential of the nation cannot be secured." He said that it was sad that countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe substituted their peace with post election violence and displaced many of the citizenry especially the youth. "We need the youth for the development of the nation and we must create the environment that would make them safe, develop their potentials and to stay and work in their own countries." The Right Reverend John Harvey-Ewusi, Bishop of Sekondi Diocese, said the initiative of the youth was commendable and had demonstrated that political opponents should not be enemies. He urged the youth to register and vote and that they should not engage in acts that could ruin the peace in the country. Mr. Kobina Prah Annan, National Democratic Congress (NDC) aspiring parliamentary candidate for the Takoradi, said all political aspirants aim at improving the nation and there should be no need to ruin the peace in the country.

He said every Ghanaian must vote peacefully and plan for the future of the country. "Elections are not meant to divide the nation and its people and we need to forget about party ideologies and think of how to develop the nation when elected," he said. Mr. Kwabena O. Darko Mensah, New Patriotic Party (NPP) aspirant for Takoradi, said the future belongs to those who believe in themselves. He said the NPP has worked with the youth over the years and will continue to do so to groom them for political leadership. 03 July 08