Methodist Guild walk for peace

Members of the Methodist Guild, as part of their annual conference, have undertaken a peace walk through the principal streets of the Koforidua Municipality to drum home the need for peace before, during and after this year's general election.

The members, numbering about 1,300, held placards, some of which read: "Don't use your selfish interest to destroy Ghana"; "Ghanaians need honest and dedicated leaders"; "Corruption hinders development"; "Ghanaians need violence-free election"; "Don't follow stomach politicians"; "E.C. be free and fair to all parties"; and "Let us enjoy freedom of expression".

Petition

In a petition read and presented to the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwabena Okyere Kusi, the National President of the Methodist Guild, Mr Jonathan Kwamina Bovcaw, stated that Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to achieve her independence from British colonial rule and had chalked up a lot of successes, including those in politics, making it to be described as a beacon of democracy in Africa.

 He, however, said skirmishes for violence cropped up at some polling stations and constituencies and the Eastern Region, though endowed with astute politicians, could not be an exemption.

He stressed that to enable Ghanaians continue to enjoy peace, unity and tranquillity before during and after this year's general election, politicians should use their platforms to spell out their policies to the public and avoid attacking personalities; they should tackle issues and shun using foul or inflammatory language.

Media advised

"The media, especially the radio stations, should avoid bias and report objectively.  Hosts of radio programmes should sanitise their programmes and refrain from embellishing some stories or using them to fuel conflicts likely to explode," the guild added.