Tamale, Jan. 7, GNA - The Nayiri, Na Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs, has called on the leadership of political parties to "play by the rules" in their campaigns. He urged them to campaign with decorum and avoid insults and intimidation to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace in the country. Nayiri Sheriga said in his New Year message to Ghanaians that Ghana needed the prevailing peace and tranquillity that has won it the accolade "an oasis of peace" in West Africa to enable it move in its forward march to prosperity.

He said 2007 was a difficult year and mentioned the energy crisis, the droughts, devastating floods that hit some parts of the Northern Region and ethnic conflicts as some of the challenges the nation went faced.

He commended the government for the able manner it handled all these challenges and that as the government completes its last year in office he asks for God's guidance for the President and all the Ministers of State. On the Bawku crisis, Na Sheriga appealed to the warring factions in the area to lay down their arms and cooperate with the security agencies to maintain peace and sit at the negotiating table to have their concerns addressed amicably.

Na Sheriga also congratulated workers in both the public and private sectors for their hard work, dedication, honesty, selflessness and contributions to national development. "As we enter the year 2008, let us pray for God to grant us the courage and fortitude to overcome challenges that come our way", he said.