Ghanaians Must Keep Flame Of Unity Burning - Bemile
The Catholic Bishop of Wa, Most Reverend Paul Bemile, has urged Ghanaians to keep the flame of unity burning even after Ghana 2008 is over.He said that Ghanaians must remain united and portray the same spirit of unity after Ghana 2008 and even throughout the period of the general election.
This, he said, was because Ghana must not only be seen as the “Black Star of football” where it was united during sporting activities but divided when it came to politics.
The exhibition of such unity, Bishop Bemile said, would sell the country "not just the Black Star of football but also the Black Star of politics in Africa and beyond, especially when it came out of this year's general election successfully".
Most Rev. Bemile gave the advice when he chaired a forum organised by the Freidrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation for youth groups in the various political parties at Wa.
It was on the theme; "Youth for Peaceful Election" and was aimed at promoting a healthy political dialogue among the youth of the various political parties at Wa.
"We must continue to unite in the year of elections just as we are more united presently to defend our country to beat all countries at the ongoing tournament," Bishop Bemile stressed, adding that if all went well in this election year, all other countries would come and learn from Ghana.
He noted that all political parties were for development and, therefore, the goal of the youth in northern Ghana must be to fight poverty rather than one another.
Bishop Bemile further said that religion and politics could divide people but "we must always bear in mind that naturally we were all created in the same image of God".
In separate presentations, the youth leaders of the various parties called for tolerance on the part of followers of all political parties, during this year's elections.
They were: Mr Hafiz Bin Salih (New Patriotic Party), Mr Michael Kumbuor (National Democratic Congress), Mr Denis Ofosu Apea (Convention People's Party) and Mr Emmanuel Wilson ( People's National Convention).They said this was the only way to achieve political excellence.
The four leaders also called on their followers to exhibit outmost discipline in this political season to avoid violence during this year's elections
They emphasised that ensuring free and fair elections was the prerogative of the youth and appealed to the respective state institutions responsible for elections to live up to expectation during this year's elections.
Story by Chris Nunoo