As we prepare to go to polls again this year, many measures are being emplaced to ensure that peace and order are maintained during the elections. Although the government will seek to maximize security and ensure the maintenance of peace, its effectiveness will depend on the compliance of various individuals in the country especially the youth.
In relations to this, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr John Jabaah Benam, has advised Ghanaian youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble during the 2020 general election.
The Deputy Minister said, he has observed that during elections, politicians had the propensity to use the youth to perpetrate and incite violence, a situation which he said was a threat to national elections and democracy in general.
He advised them that, instead of allowing themselves to be used for electoral violence,
“The youth must rather channel that energy into ventures that would help in their personal development and the development of the country.”
Speaking during a visit by members of the Queenmothers Foundation Ghana, a subsidiary of the Queenmothers Association, who were on a working visit to the region, he reminded the youth that, Ghana was the only country we could all call home and be proud of, so they should desist from engaging in any unlawful act that would disturb the peace currently being enjoyed.
“May I take this opportunity to advise especially the youth that we have only one country and that is the only country we have, we have no other country than Ghana; so during the 2020 elections let’s think of Ghana first.”
Mr. Benam also said that, the perception that the Northern Region was prone to violence was false adding that the
“Negative impressions you get especially on social media about region is a thing of the past.”
The national leader of the Queenmothers Foundation Ghana, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu also speaking said the foundation was an arm of the Queenmothers Association, and their visit formed part of efforts by the foundation to promote peace and stability in the country.
She then called on the youth not to engage in activities that would create violence before, during and after the elections.
The Queenmothers Foundation was led by their National President, Nana Ama Serwaa Bonsu, the Queenmother for Offinso Kyeraa in the Ashanti Region, who received a rousing welcome to the region upon their visit.