Zabzugu (N/R), Dec. 07, GNA – Political parties have been urged to educate especially their youth activists to respect the principles of rule of law, equity, fairness, justice, and transparency to ensure continued peace in the country.
Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), who made the call, emphasised that, “there is need to instill in the youth a strong desire for peace through internal processes of peacebuilding, problem identification and conflict resolution” to ensure that they followed laid down procedures in seeking redress.
Alhaji Saani urged members of political parties to tolerate opposing views and said such was the beauty of democracy, and helped to propel the development of the country.
He stated this while making a presentation at an Inter-party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting organised at Zabzugu by the Zabzugu District office of the NCCE.
The meeting was to reignite dialogue amongst political parties and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful co-existence for national cohesion.
It was also to reinforce the role of political parties as key stakeholders for ensuring peace and security in the country as well as to reignite dialogue on inter and intra political party grievances handling procedures.
Participants included representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, security agencies, faith-based organisations, youth, and women groups.
The event formed part of the Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana project funded by the European Union to amongst others counter violent extremism in the country.
Alhaji Saani urged IPDC members to take their roles seriously by deepening collaborations amongst political parties, the youth, and security agencies in the district to ensure peace in the area as well as prevent actions that had the potential to radicalise the youth.
Rev. Eliger Nakoba Kuadmo, Chairman of the IPDC in the Zabzugu District urged members of the IPDC in the area to take active interest in the activities of the IPDC to ensure peace in the district.
Rev. Kuadmo reiterated that, “Zabzugu District is the only place we have. Therefore, we must all contribute to ensuring peace and tranquility. There is no place like home.”
The representative of the Chief of Yelzoli, Chief Mutawakil Abubakari said the community watchdogs or volunteers in the area would be supported to strengthen their work to deal with criminals in the area.
Madam Muazu Balkisu, a representative of the Youth in Parliament Association in the district, emphasised the need to strengthen the sensitisation in communities on extremist activities since many of the terrorist groups targeted remote areas.
Mr Mohammed Abdul-Rahaman, a representative of the New Patriotic Party NPP, called on political parties to champion the cause of peace and tolerance in the area.
He said this could be achieved by constantly advising their followers on the need to tolerate the views of members of other political parties.
GNA