Party Youth Wings Express Worry

THE youth wings of the four political parties represented in parliament have expressed regret at the "deteriorating" relations between President J.A. Kufuor and ex-President Jerry Rawlings and called on the Council of State and the National House of Chiefs to intervene to resolve their differences.

"The Council of State and the National House of Chiefs should as a matter of urgency take keen interest in the resolution of the impasse, and we the youth are prepared and willing to support them in that endeavour," they said, adding that the current relationship does not present a good example for the youth.

A communiqué issued at the end of a three-day conference of the youth branches of the political parties here said, "We believe that in spite of our ideological differences, we are still one people with one destiny."

The conference, the first of its king was organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), on the theme, "The youth and the future of multi-party democracy in Ghana."

It was attended by the leadership of the youth wings of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Convention People's Party (CPP)and the People's National Convention (PNC).

There were also representatives of tertiary students wings of the NPP and NDC, as well as youth groups from the Netherlands.

Among other things, the youth groups reaffirmed their commitment to the sustenance of multi-party constitutional democracy and prosperity of Ghana, recognizing the indispensable role of the youth in national development.

They also expressed worry about the misuse of the media to create tension in the country adding that the "phenomenon of partisan press being used in Ghana to promote divisionism and acrimonious politics must cease or be checked."

"We have taken note much regrettably of a paradox where political parties in Ghana are increasingly becoming a potential source of conflicts, using young people to foment trouble. We therefore call on the youth to refuse being used as agents of political conflicts in Ghana," the communiqué said.

They also urged the state to involve the youth leaders of the various political parties in fashioning out mechanisms for successful implementation of the National Youth Employment Programme.

The government, they said should also facilitate a coalition of youth campaign for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

"There is the need for youth building initiatives that are relevant to strengthening party organizations, accountability, inter-party co-operation and civic education in order to entrench the norms and practices that support the multi-party system, instead of those that promote zero tolerance," they said.

They called for a legislation to support state funding of political parties to be able to allocate funds for the effective development of their youth wings and to ensure a level playing field for all parties.

The communiqué was signed by Iddrusu Haruna, John Boadu, Oteng Anane and Bernard Mornah, National Youth Organizers of the NDC, NPP, CPP and PNC respectively as well as Mrs. Mensah, Administrator of the IEA and Kwesi Jonah, Acting Head of Governance of the IEA.