A Plea To The Northern Youth: Let Peace Reign

Just some few days ago, there was skirmishes among some youth in Tamale Metropolis that led to the death of one person and a burning down of Radio Justice ( a private radio station). This incident happened just when the image of Northern Ghana was re-gaining it image as a peaceful habitat, having been in ethno-political turmoil in the past.

I found it astounding that some recalcitrant youth would just take the law into their own hands, knowing very well the developmental disparities that need to be addressed. Indeed, bridging the developmental needs between the North and South is long overemphasized. Unfortunately, all efforts from individuals, Civil Society Organizations and Governmental agencies towards addressing these challenges are being mud up by unnecessary violence.

As a proud citizen of the North, I continue to worry over the lackadaisical attitudes of government and our own political leaders for not paying attention to the development of the North. Besides, I still cannot understand why the youth of the North rely on the greedy politicians and allowed themselves to be used to cause violence. What is more perturbing is the obliteration of the few existing infrastructure and social amenities through our careless and unwarranted behaviors.

We continue to cry of poverty and lack of employment opportunities in the North, yet we failed woefully in pursuing measures that will address such problems. And even when few sympathetic individuals and philanthropist comes to our aid, we end up destroying these assistance, causing them to lose confidence on us and divert their investment opportunities to rather more receptive and peaceful regions. You can imagine the number of people that have been rendered unemployed from this Radio Station just because of the reckless attitudes of some youth. The investment made in establishing Radio Justice would forever not recovered and the job loss in even more huge than anything else.

We can never get the best of investment opportunities in the North if these impunity attitudes are not stopped. Perhaps, the security agencies must up their game in arresting and prosecuting individuals whose actions and inactions cause lost of life and property. Government must beef-up security agencies and resource them properly so they can stand the with-withal of criminals and recalcitrant persons. The residents of the North must be watch dogs of one another and should report to the appropriate security agency on suspicion of any strange behavior within the neighborhood so such characters can be nub in the bud. We must avoid “we are all one” kind of assertion when it comes to criminality. Yes! The “we” assertion is meant to strengthen a bond of unity and togetherness but not to protect criminals. We should not forget that the northern Harmatan does not blow into only one household without the other, so it is about conflict. Violence has no mercy of any individual. If you cause it, it affects you as well.

My strong plea to the youth of Northern Ghana and for that matter, Ghana at large is to always remember to ask yourself the following questions any time you are going to embark in any activity or action: What I am going to do now, will it put food on my table? Will it give me money? Even if it will give money or food, for how long? How will it affect my family? Without undertaking such action, can't I still survive? What if that action wasn't there, what could I have done? If I deserve better treatment, doen't my enemy deserve better too? You must look at yourself and your enemy: I'm human, he is human. I eat food, he eats food. I deserve to live, he equally deserve to live. Frankly, Northerners cannot continue to live in the state of insecurity. We must protect and respect each and every individual, whether Northerner or stranger.

Furthermore, we claim to be religious, yet I see no reflection of the cherished religious values in our daily lives. It's time to implement them. The main religions of the North: African Religion, Christianity and Islam are all built on the tenets of peace and coexistence. That,s why the Gospels says, Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God. Indeed, I know Northerners as peace makers and friendly people, yet we condone some few intractable individuals to tarnish the entire image of the North. No! We can't continue to allow this to happen and that's why I'm calling on the security agencies and concern citizens to fish these criminals out so our cherished land would be a peaceful place for all.

I plead with the youth of Northern Ghana to embrace peace always. The best way to avoid conflict is to say “sorry” and walk away. Sorry is the only solution to violence. We are mortal beings and are not infallible. Perhaps, the only advice for the youth of Ghana is to be THOUGHTFULL of what they do. We should not forget, our future lies in our own hands, and should we destroy it through violence, no one should take the blame. We should know that the prize of peace is long life, family happiness, employment, infrastructure, and above all social harmony.

ABU IBRAHIM AZEBRE
GRADUATE OF UDS
+233-240393109
[email protected]