Election 2020: Youth Parliament Campaign For Peace In Ashanti Region
Ashanti Youth Parliament comprising Ejisu Youth Parliament, Old Tafo Parliament and Asokore Mampong Parliament have embarked on a peace campaign to mark Africa Youth Day.
The Parliament sitting which was held at the Ejisu Municipal Assembly was motioned ‘Ending Electoral Violence, The Youth Factor’.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Ahmed Adams told Wontumionline.com that, he thanked the government for supporting the National Youth Authority for introducing such programme for the youth in the Ashanti Region to ensure peace in election 2020.
He said that, since the government assumed office, it has invested huge sums of money into the NYA.
Mr. Adams appealed to the government to create more youth Parliament for the development and progress of the youth.
“If we get both NDC and NPP Members in Parliament and they debate jovially like this there won’t be any disturbances in elections.
He disclosed that, the youth Parliament is supposed to meet four times in a year but it depends on the leaders to name the venue.
Speaking for the Majority, Mr. Zein Udin Abubakar said that, if government provides jobs for the youth it would keep them busy so no Politician can manipulate them to create disturbances.
He however took a swipe at the media saying the industry plays a major role in peace building and that the players should do away with exaggeration of stories to create unnecessary panic and tension.
“The media must give accurate and specific information.” He urged
The Minority leader for the sitting, Mr. Kwabena Opoku Antwi indicated that, the NCCE, religious leaders, EC and the Police must also support the youth to ensure peace.
He noted that, if the EC does her work transparently and fairly peace would prevail.
“We should maintain the peace we have. Some leaders are supporting the youth to create disturbances in the elections that is why we the minority said that, the youth need leaders to assist them to exhibit good characters and to live harmony with the neighbor.”
The Regional Director for the NYA, Mr. George Owel Amponsah said that, since Africa is marking Youth Day, and Ghana would soon go to the polls, there is the need to project the programme on peace campaign.
According to him, there is nothing the country can do without the involvement of the youth.
He said that, they have formed the Youth Parliament in some District to give the youth the platform to send any misunderstanding there to get effective solution but not to react.
Mr. Owel Amponsah noted that, it is only the Youth that can let peace reign and turn the nation upside down.
However, the Regional NYA Director advised the Youth not to allow any Politician influence them to cause disturbances.
“When the Politicians influence the youth to cause chaos, it means they are important, but the importance must be positive not bolting with ballot box, tearing posters. On the election day vote for the party of your choice. When the counting is due, you come and listen. If it goes in your way you go home peacefully if the opposite too, you do the same.” He further admonished.
Adding his voice, the Director for Ashanti Regional National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Wilson Arthur said that, the Youth Parliament is something that the country must pay attention to.
He said that, they teach the youth what to do to get peace before, during and after the election.
“The Youth play a vital role in nation building. If they turn the country upside down, there is nothing we can do to revive the nation. Every activity would be put to a halt.”
Mr. Arthur advised Politicians not to incite the youth to cause disturbances in the election.
He stressed that, Political party is established to contest in election and that if it wins election, it becomes a government and rule the country but not to turn the country upside down.
He said that, the Politicians should set exemplary leadership for the youth and future generations to follow suit.
