The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, has called for calm and assured Ghanaians that the country will uphold its long-standing tradition of peaceful elections.

Speaking at the Okyeman Nifa Royal durbar, part of the celebrations marking his 25th anniversary as the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin emphasised that Ghana has successfully navigated high-stake elections since 1992, and the upcoming December 2024 election will be no different.

He encouraged voters, particularly the youth, to exercise their rights responsibly, stressing the importance of participating in the democratic process with civility.

"On December 7, go to the polling centre and vote for a candidate who can bring development to you, then go home after voting. You may choose to return in the evening to witness the counting or stay home and listen to the results from the media," myjoyonline.com quoted the chief.

He also reminded those who may face defeat to handle the outcome gracefully with the reassuring words, "If you lose the election, take a chilled drink; the sun shall set and rise again."

Beyond his message of peace, the Okyenhene highlighted the importance of forgiveness and unity among Ghanaians.

Citing lyrics from King Paluta’s Aseda, he urged everyone to adopt a spirit of forgiveness.

“The musician called King Paluta has lyrics on forgiveness. I think the song title is Aseda and it says: 'forgive me if I have wronged you. I have also forgiven your sins.'

"We must learn to forgive each other. There is no issue that can't be resolved by dialogue. In Akan the difficult sin to forgive and forget is when your brother has an affair with your wife and vice versa, even with that, we still deal with the issue.”

In a symbolic gesture, he declared the cancellation of all grudges during his 25th anniversary, urging others to do the same in the spirit of love and community.

The Okyenhene also touched on the need for patriotism and selflessness, particularly among those in public service.

He called on teachers to perform their duties with dedication and love, acknowledging the critical role they play in shaping the nation's future.

While applauding the government's investments in education, he stressed the need for an emphasis on skills development and entrepreneurship to create job opportunities for the youth.

NAY/ADG

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