Don’t let politicians use you for electoral violence – John Boadu tells youth

The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Deputy Chairman of the Democrat Union of Africa, John Boadu, has urged young people to shun politicians whose modus operandi is to use them for political disturbances in furtherance of their parochial interest.

According to him, such politicians did not mean well for the well being of the young people and should therefore be ignored.

Mr Boadu made this call when he delivered the keynote address at the maiden conference of the Young Democrat Union (YDUA) which was held in Accra-Ghana on Thursday, December 3, 2020.

The conference, which was held on the theme: “Consolidating democracy in Africa: YDUA at the forefront of transparent and impartial elections” brought together young leaders representing the youth wings of the various political parties of member states to share ideas and experiences on the subject of democracy and how to promote democratic principles on the continent.

The delegates, who were from 15 African countries, will also have the opportunity to observe the general elections of Ghana on December 7, 2020, in order to learn from Ghana's rich democratic culture particularly the country's enviable free and fair elections credentials.

Speaking at the opening session of the 7-day conference, Mr Boadu, said “As young people, I wish to encourage you to muster courage to shun politicians who wish to use you for political violence. They mean no well for you. They are your biggest destruction. They only care about power and will use you to get that power and then dump you. Say no to them. Remember they have families and if they think what they want you to do is worthwhile, then find out whether their children are actively involved and leading the charge”.

He extolled Ghana's enviable democratic credentials and implored other African countries to emulate Ghana's shining examples.

“Ghana is seen world over as the bastion of democracy on the continent of Africa because of her proven track record and commitment to holding free and fair elections and ensure smooth democratic transition. Since the advent of the country's fourth republic in 1992, Ghana has witnessed 7 general elections all of which have been peaceful,” he said.

“Three of these seven elections (i.e the general elections of 2000, 2008 and 2016) have seen incumbent political parties lose competitive elections, and yet, agreeing to handover power to the parties declared by the EC as winners of the elections, which rarely happens in many African countries”, he observed.

He attributed Ghana's success story in achieving this democratic milestone to the country's commitment to building strong institutions rather than strong men. “When democratic institutions are strong, as we have in Ghana, then no matter the greed and other excesses of leaders, they cannot have their way because the institutions will rise to the occasion and whip them in line.

The Young Democrat Union of Africa is the youth wing of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA), which is the African political alliance of all right wing political parties and likeminded organizations and think tanks on the continent of Africa that is dedicated to promoting the tenets of democracy and other centre-right philosophies across the continent and beyond. Louisa Atta-Agyemang, a member of the NPP youth wing is the current President of the YDUA.

The opening session of 2020 conference of the YDUA was held on December 3, 2020, and is expected to end on December 9, 2020. The session was chaired by Peter Mac Manu, the 2020 national campaign manager of the NPP. Other speakers at the session, were the NPP National Youth Organiser, Lawyer Nana Boakye; the international relations director of the NPP and Deputy Secretary General of DUA, Emmanuel Attafuah Danso; the President of YDUA, Miss Louisa Atta-Agyemang; and the Country Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Burkhardt Halleman.