Bolgatanga, June 7, GNA- The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society organisation at the weekend, underscored the need for the youth in the three Northern Regions, to stay away from conflicts, since nothing good would come from such clashes.

The President of NORPRA, Mr. Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, whose organisation is working in the interest of the marginalised and social equal justice, made the observation, at a seminar organised by Youth for Leadership, a youth organisation in the region that seeks to project the legacy of former President Jerry John Rawlings. Speaking on the theme: "Peace and Healthy Development," Mr. Ayorogo stressed that there was nothing beneficial to be derived from conflict and warned the youth never to allow themselves to be used in such acts to ruin their future.

He said during conflicts Government spent so much money that could have been used for development purposes, to maintain peace. Mr Ayorogo explained that since 2006, government had spent 200,000 Ghana cedis per month, to maintain peace and security in the Northern Region.

He said the Bawku conflict had led to the loss of social, physical and human capital, while from 1980 to 2000, Africa had lost over 50 per cent of its physical infrastructure through conflicts. More

Mr. Ayorogo advised the youth to see themselves as future leaders and find means of developing themselves and the nation instead of being used by selfish people to engage in conflicts. He said peace and development were synonymous and development could not take place in an atmosphere of violence and conflict. "No investor would like to invest in an area where there is conflict," he noted and appealed to the youth to be ambassadors of peace to the warring factions in Bawku.

Mr Ayorogo said in order to promote development and prevent conflict, government should make available sufficient resources to address poverty and inequalities especially in deprived areas. Buttressing his point, he said research conducted by economic and development experts on the Economy of Northern Ghana, revealed that poverty in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, was a security threat to the nation and reiterated the need for more development in the area.

Mr. Noble Alagskomah, Pharmacist at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, who spoke on "HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse", advised the youth to desist from pre-marital affair or play it safe by engaging in protective sex.

He asked them not to stigmatize people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA's) by associating with them in the spirit of companionship. Mr Alagskomah advised PLWHA' to seek regular medical attention. He urged the youth to desist from drug abuse since it has serious health hazards.

The Acting Regional Chairman for Youth for Leadership, Mr. Ayimbire George Adabre, said his outfit's objective was to promote the good legacies of former President Rawlings and to inculcate them into the youth to become responsible citizens in future. He stressed that former President Rawlings had left a great legacy behind, which should be nurtured for the development of the State and the youth for future leadership roles.