Tamale, July 2, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, has urged political parties and their leaders to be guarded in their utterances on sensitive issues which do not augur well for the peace and reconciliation of the country.

He said nobody's purpose would be served by playing on the ethnic and factional emotions of the people. "If we want to be credible leaders, we need to soften our agent-provocateur language and utterances".

Alhaji Idris was speaking at a reception hosted by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for senior citizens in the region as part of activities marking Republic Day on Tuesday.

He reminded political parties and the people aspiring to be elected to power that peace was a prerogative for free and fair elections and it would therefore be counter-productive to be beating the war drums and continue to incite or make provocative utterances that tend to deepen divisions and cause strife.

Alhaji Idris said the situation in Bawku and Dagbon were not the best indicator for free and fair elections and therefore urged all stakeholders in the peace process in those areas to create an enabling environment in which the people could cast their votes without fear or intimidation. More

Alhaji Idris said Ghanaians should let the lessons of countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe guide them as the country goes to the polls in December.

He urged the senior citizens to use their influence to talk to the youth to be law abiding and not allow themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians to create violence during their political campaigns.

He commended senior citizens for their immense contributions to the socio-economic development of the country and said their efforts cannot be fully rewarded.

Mr. Charles Abass, the Regional Coordinating Director, advised the younger generation to respect and honour their elders for the role they played in building the nation.

Several prominent senior citizens, including Hajia Adisah Munkaila, a former member of the Council of State, Mr. James Bakari and Mr. Seidu Seini, both retired educationist were honoured.