By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Zuarungu (U/E), Oct 28, GNA – Naba Bilea Namaal-Tinga Caeser A. Afegera III, the Paramount Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, has cautioned aspirants of political parties to desist from spreading campaign messages that would instigate their supporters to engage in violent activities.
“Let your supporters, both NDC and NPP, know that you are aspiring to bring development to the living and not the dead, and they should therefore not do anything untoward in the name of the elections that, instead of lifting up your name, will rather drag your name into mud”, he advised.
The Paramount Chief emphasised that party supporters, on the other hand, “must not allow themselves to be deceived by politicians into killing themselves for them to go and sit in air-conditioned cars and offices”.
He made the remarks when he addressed the people of Zuarungu and other personalities drawn from all walks of life at this year’s N’daakoya festival at Zuarungu-Tua, the capital of the Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region.
The festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Zuarungu Traditional Area in commemoration of God’s blessing for a successful farming season and marks the beginning of solicitation of God’s blessing for the next farming season.
This year’s celebration was held on the theme “The role of indigenes and social partners for peace, security, and development of Zuarungu”.
Naba Afegera III reiterated that the peace of the community and the country was paramount, and the political parties must be interested in doing everything possible to protect its integrity for peaceful coexistence.
Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Member of Parliament for the Bolgatanga East, said his outfit was committed to a peaceful election and called on his supporters not to do anything that would jeopardise the peace of the area.
Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper East Regional Minister, said while the government was committed to putting in measures to ensure peace before, during, and after the election, it was important that party supporters toned down confrontational rhetoric and engaged in meaningful discussions that would advance the development of the country.
He emphasised that development could not take place in an atmosphere of insecurity and said most of the region’s conflicts were centred on land and chieftaincy and appealed to the chiefs to prioritise the codification of succession plans to avert several conflicts surrounding the chieftaincy institution.
GNA