Veep calls for election campaign based on messages, ideas
The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has asked political actors contesting this year’s general election to campaign on messages and ideas and not use threats and intimidation on their opponents.
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He stated that elections were about development and the choices available to the citizenry, adding that no development could take place without peace, for which reason there was the need for all to uphold the peace, especially as the country approached the election campaign period.
Mr Amissah-Arthur made the call when he addressed a durbar to climax the youth congress of the 40th anniversary of the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) at Salaga in the East Gonja District in the Northern Region last Saturday.
The event, which brought together chiefs, opinion leaders and youth groups in Gonjaland, was on the theme: “40 years of promoting peaceful coexistence and development: The role of the Gonjaland Youth Association.”
The vice-president gave an assurance that the government would ensure transparent, free and fair election and asked for the co-operation and support of every Ghanaian to achieve that goal.
Chieftaincy disputes
Touching on chieftaincy disputes in the country, Mr Amissah-Arthur said succession to stools and skins had become a source of conflict in some parts of the country and commended the people of Gonja for employing the best and most peaceful practices when it came to accession to stools and skins.
“You have set good examples that are worthy of emulation,” he said.
He called on traditional rulers in Gonjaland to protect their good reputation of peaceful transition to skins that they had built for the Gonja tradition.
Need for peace
He told the gathering that the theme of the congress imposed on the people of Gonjaland the need to promote peace and unity as the surest way to guarantee development and charged the people to live up to the theme to ensure that Gonjaland remained peaceful and unified for the needed development.
The vice-president commended the initiators of the idea for working together for 40 years to sustain it, an indication that whatever minor differences existed, unity and understanding had prevailed in Gonjaland.
While assuring the Yagbonwura and the chiefs and people of Gonjaland of the government’s commitment to its transformational agenda to improve the lives of the people, Mr Amissah-Arthur said the government was mindful of the enormous agricultural potential of the area.
Among the dignitaries present were the National Security Advisor, Alhaji Baba Kamara; the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Abdullah Abubakari; the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Joyce Mogtari; the Deputy Power Minister, Mr John Jinapor, and some district chief executives.
Development projects
The Vice-President stated that the government’s transformational agenda was on course and would continue to deliver the infrastructure that provided the basis for economic and social development.
He alluded to the significant projects in the area, such as the completion of the Fulfuso-Sawla road, with ancillary facilities including schools and clinics, the ongoing works on the 90 km Tamale-Salaga-Makango road and the Busunu-Mankarigu road.
In addition to those roads, he mentioned the 60-bed Salaga District Hospital whose completion would provide modern health facilities, as well as the renovation of the existing Salaga Hospital to be utilised to expand access to health services.
He also touched on the completion of a girls’ hostel and a 12-unit classroom block for the Kpembe Nursing and Midwifery College.
Gonjaland President
The President of the GYA, Mr Alhassan Dramani, had, earlier in his welcome address mentioned the rich history of the Gonja people that highlighted unity, courage, protecting what was right and seeking the best interest of the people.
Those attributes, he stressed, constituted the building blocks for future generations and a great heritage that should guide the association and every son and daughter of Gonjaland.
Mr Dramani asked chiefs in Gonjaland to use arbitration and other peaceful means to resolve chieftaincy disputes.
While lauding the government for initiating many development projects in the area, he spoke about some challenges the area was facing including unemployment.