Politics of Thursday, 2 September 2004

Source: GNA

Chief lauds NPP for peaceful primaries

Nkoranza, Sept 2, GNA - Nana Okofo Nyarko Gyabaa II, Chief of Busunya in Nkoranza North Constituency, has commended members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for conducting peaceful primary elections to elect the constituency's parliamentary candidate for the December general election.

He told the GNA that he had feared the agitations and challenges in the run-up to the election would mar the exercise.

"The problems that surrounded the elections really gave me a headache as Busunya is the head quarters of the newly created Nkoranza North constituency", Nana Gyabaa said.

Nana Nyarko advised members and supporters of political parties operating in the area to comport themselves during campaign rallies and the general election.

He urged other traditional rulers to organize and advise people to guard against negative attitudes that could adversely affect the elections and the development programmes.

Nana Nyarko called on religious bodies to pray for peaceful elections to maintain the peace and stability in the country as Christianity would only thrive where the people live in harmony.

"Political party leaders should also guard against the use of provocative statements and abusive language when they mount platforms", the chief added.

Nana Nyarko asked Ghanaians to learn lessons from the experiences of Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Congo and other countries as a result of political upheavals and should never allow such events to occur in Ghana.

He prayed that God and the souls of the ancestors would bless the nation and make the December elections violence-free. Members of the NPP in the constituency on Monday elected Mr Eric Amoateng as their Parliamentary candidate at Busunya.